ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Foot and Mouth

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the number of farm businesses in receipt of compensation during the foot and mouth epidemic which have since (a) been sold and (b) ceased to trade as farms.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 7 May 2002
	No formal assessment has been made of the number of farm businesses in receipt of compensation during the foot and mouth epidemic which have since (a) been sold and (b) ceased to trade. However, an informal survey conducted by the Department in February 2002 suggested that 6 per cent. of farmers whose animals had been infected with foot and mouth disease intend to move out of farming.

Committee Mandates

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the mandate of the EU Committee for the adaptation to scientific and technical progress and implementation of the directives on waste is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; when it is next due to meet; what the UK representation on it is; whether any experts nominated by the Scottish Executive (a) have been and (b) are members of it; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: The Committee's mandate is determined by Articles 17 and 18 of the Waste Framework Directive, Article 9 of the Hazardous Waste Directive and Article 11 of the End-Of-Life Vehicles Directive. In summary, its mandate is to assist the European Commission to adapt aspects of those Directives in the light of scientific and technical progress.
	The Committee met on 6 July 2001, 30 January 2002 and 22 May 2002. The UK's representation is determined by the agenda for each meeting but the basic representation is usually two officials.
	The Scottish Executive have not nominated any experts to attend the Committee's meetings. However, my officials work closely with the Scottish Executive on waste management issues, including those dealt with by the Committee.

Waste Management

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what investigations she has made into alternative ways of disposing of unwanted (a) hazardous and (b) non- hazardous items; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 10 June 2002
	The EU Landfill Directive bans the landfilling of:
	Liquid waste.
	Waste which in the conditions of landfill is explosive, oxidising, corrosive, flammable or highly flammable.
	Chemical substances from R&D or teaching, e.g. unidentified or new laboratory residues whose effects on man or the environment are not known.
	Hospital and other clinical wastes arising from medical or veterinary establishments which are infectious.
	Whole used tyres from 2003 and shredded used tyres from 2006.
	Any waste that does not fulfil the waste acceptance criteria.
	Some of the wastes banned from landfill are not generally landfilled at present. For those that are, research for the Department concluded that there were sufficient alternative disposal systems (in use or planned) to cope with the large volume of organic process waste streams requiring diversion from landfill. Examples given included:
	Pyrolysis and gasification—commissioned in some major industrial sites already.
	Merchant treatment plants for organic wastes offering pre-treatment, such as air stripping or pH balancing.
	Existing landfill leachate plant could treat a range of aqueous organic waste streams, further developments could provide a wider range of outlets for organic wastes.
	Some water companies are encouraging greater use of their spare capacity in aerobic and anaerobic treatment systems
	Solvent recovery plants have some spare capacity and are planning investment to recover useful materials from aqueous feedstock.
	High temperature incineration.
	The report suggested additional facilities might be required for oily wastes, contaminated soils, and inorganic chemical wastes.
	The Government are also working in partnership with the tyre industry through the Used Tyre Working Group (UTWG) investigating alternative disposal, recycling and recovery options for those tyres displaced from landfill with the aim of ensuring that sufficient capacity is available to handle those tyres displaced from landfill.

Correspondence

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to the letter of 11 September 2001 from the hon. Member for Torbay on behalf of Mr. Moore of Paignton.

Elliot Morley: A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 12 November 2001.

Correspondence

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to the letter of 28 November 2001 from the hon. Member for Torbay on behalf of Mr. Jones of Torquay.

Elliot Morley: The hon. Member's letter was transferred to the Department for Trade and Industry as the issues it raised are the responsibility of that Department. My hon. Friend the Minister of State for Energy and Industry (Mr. Wilson) replied on 12 March 2002.

Farm Subsidies

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to rationalise the main funding schemes in the uplands to provide a simplified system of support for farmers in these areas.

Elliot Morley: The Policy Commission on the Future of Farming and Food recommended that the long-term aim for less favoured area support should be an integrated tiered payment scheme reflecting environmental and social benefits, actual cost of landscape, wildlife and access maintenance and the economic difficulties of traditional hill farming. The Government will take full account of this recommendation in reviewing the hill farm allowance and the current agri-environment schemes. In addition, plans are being drawn up for a small farmers scheme which will provide a simplified claims procedure for small farmers in the uplands and lowlands.

Fishing Industry

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what was the (a) value of and (b) number of jobs in the UK inshore fishing industry in each year since 1997.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 10 June 2002
	Accurate estimates of the value of jobs in the inshore fishing industry are not available. Vessels under 10 metres in length comprise most of the UK inshore fleet, and Table 1 shows the value of landings made by these vessels for 1997 to 2001. The available data on jobs in the fishing industry cover only numbers of fishermen working on vessels. The information is given in Table 2; information for vessels under 10 metres is available only for England and Wales.
	
		Table 1: Value of landings by the under-10m fleet, 1997–2001
		
			 Year Value (£ million) 
		
		
			 1997 60.0 
			 1998 69.1 
			 1999 56.0 
			 2000 48.2 
			 2001 50.1 
		
	
	Source:
	Fisheries Departments in the UK
	
		Table 2: Number of fishermen 1997–2000
		
			 Year  England and Wales  Scotland  Northern Ireland  United Kingdom  
		
		
			 1997 10m and under 5,129 n/a n/a n/a 
			  Over 10m 4,300 n/a n/a n/a 
			  All vessels 9,429 8,194 981 18,604 
			 1998 10m and under 5,045 n/a n/a n/a 
			  Over 10m 4,066 n/a n/a n/a 
			  All vessels 9,111 7,771 1,007 17,889 
			 1999 10m and under 4,100 n/a n/a n/a 
			  Over 10m 3,596 n/a n/a n/a 
			  All vessels 7,696 7,330 935 15,961 
			 2000 10m and under 4,185 n/a n/a n/a 
			  Over 10m 3,121 n/a n/a n/a 
			  All vessels 7,306 6,092 686 14,084 
		
	
	Source:
	Fisheries Departments in the UK

Regional Organisation

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what regional organisation her Department has; and if she will list the counties and unitary authorities in each region in (a) 1997 and (b) 2002.

Elliot Morley: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs was created in June 2001 from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and parts of the Department for Environment, Transport and the Regions and the Home Office.
	In relation to MAFF in 1997 there were nine regional service centres carrying out work for the Ministry. There were also three regional areas for the State Veterinary Service, and offices in Scotland and Wales. The counties for each of these offices are laid out in the table. The unitary authorities are not included in this table due to the disproportionate cost of providing such information in the requested form.
	On 1 April 2001 the regional service centres were dissolved and the Rural Development Service was established with eight regional offices to take forward the England Rural Development Programme. Since the creation of DEFRA in June 2001, the Government offices have also carried out work for my Department.
	The details of the counties and unitary authorities for the regional offices of the Rural Development Service, the State Veterinary Service and the Government offices in 2002 are set out in the second table.
	
		1997 MAFF regional structure
		
			 MAFF regional service centres/counties State Veterinary Service 
		
		
			 South West  
			 Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly West(1) 
			  
			 Wessex (Bristol) 
			 Somerset, Dorset and Wiltshire 
			  
			 South Mercia (Worcester) 
			 Hereford and Worcester 
			 Gloucestershire 
			 West Midlands East 
			 Warwickshire 
			  
			 South East (Reading) 
			 Greater London, Kent,  
			 East and West Sussex, 
			 Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire,  
			 Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire 
			 Anglia (Cambridge) (East) 
			 Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, 
			 Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex 
			 and Bedfordshire 
			  
			 East Midlands (Nottingham) 
			 Leicestershire 
			 Northamptonshire 
			 Lincolnshire, North 
			 Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire 
			  
			 North Mercia (Crewe) 
			 Greater Manchester, Cheshire, 
			 Staffordshire, Shropshire (see footnote 1) (North) 
			 and Merseyside 
			  
			 North East (Northallerton) 
			 North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, 
			 South Yorkshire and Durham 
			  
			 Northern (Carlisle) 
			 Lancashire, Cumbria, 
			 Northumberland and 
			 Tyne and Wear 
			   
			  Wales 
			  Scotland 
		
	
	(1) Includes Shropshire
	
		2002 DEFRA regional structure
		
			 RDS/GO regions Counties Unitary authorities SVS regions 
		
		
			 South West Cornwall, and the Isles of Scilly, Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire Plymouth, Torbay, Poole, Bournemouth, Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset, Swindon West 
			
			 West Midlands Shropshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Staffordshire—see footnote 1 Herefordshire, Telford and Wrekin, Stoke-on-Trent—see footnote 1. The metropolitan authorities in the West Midlands 
			 
			 East—East of England Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire Peterborough, Luton, Southend-on-Sea, Thurrock East 
			
			 South East Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Surrey, Kent, West Sussex, East Sussex Isle of Wight, Milton Keynes, Brighton and Hove, Medway, Portsmouth, Southampton, Bracknell Forest, Reading, Slough, West Berkshire, Windsor and Maidenhead, Wokingham 
			
			 London Greater London  
			
			 East Midlands Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Leicester, Rutland 
			  Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire Derby, Nottingham North(2) 
			
			 North East Northumberland, Durham Darlington, Hartlepool, Stockton on Tees, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland. The Metropolitan authorities in Tyne and Wear 
			
			 North West Cumbria, Lancashire, Cheshire Blackpool, Blackburn with Darwen, Warrington, Halton. The Metropolitan authorities in Merseyside and in Greater Manchester 
			 
			 Yorkshire and Humber North Yorkshire York, East Riding of Yorkshire, Kingston Upon Hull, North Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire. The Metropolitan authorities in South Yorkshire and in West Yorkshire North 
			 
			Wales 
			Scotland 
		
	
	(2) Includes Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent

Energy Efficiency

Paul Tyler: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the potential carbon savings are in the EU as a result of the proposed energy performance of buildings directive expressed in tonnes of carbon dioxide.

Michael Meacher: holding answer 21 March 2002
	The European Union Final Energy Demand by sector and by fuel in 1997 (Mtoe) indicated that 40.7 per cent. of final energy demand would come from buildings 1 . A further review by the European Union 2 reviewed existing energy efficiency measures and identified buildings as a priority action area for the short and medium term. An action plan 3 outlined ways to limit carbon dioxide emissions from buildings and to improve their energy efficiency.
	In the UK, the residential and tertiary building sectors have been shown to be the largest overall end users of energy, mainly for heating, lighting, appliances and equipment. The energy consumed in buildings in the UK amounts to 46 per cent. of the national total (27 per cent. from the domestic sector and 19 per cent. from the non-domestic sector). This equates to about 235 million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year—or about 63.5 million tonnes of carbon per year (MtC/year).
	1 Source: Energy in Europe—European Union Energy Outlook to 2020, special issue November 1999. The Shared Analysis Project, EEC.
	2 Communication from the Commission of 29 April 1998: Energy Efficiency in the European Community—Towards a Strategy for the Rational Use of Energy.
	3 Action plan to improve energy efficiency in the European Community, 2000. Commission Proposal COM (2000) 247 final http://europa.eu.int/scadplus/leg/energy/lvb/127033.htm.

GM Crops

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what recent meetings she has had with her EU counterparts to discuss regulation of GM crops; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what recent meetings she has had with her counterparts in the EU at which plans to change the procedure for approval of GM foods and seeds within the EU was discussed.

Michael Meacher: The Secretary of State attended Environment Council in October 2001, at which the proposed regulations on traceability and labelling of food and feed products derived from genetically modified organisms were discussed. She also attended the Agriculture Council on 23 October, at which the proposed regulations for GM food and feed and the proposed regulations on traceability and labelling were discussed.

GM Crops

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what bilateral meetings she and her officials have had with the United States Department of Agriculture at which the subject of GM crops was discussed; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: The Secretary of State visited the USA in December 2001 and April 2002 and discussed GM crops in meetings with her counterparts. There have recently been discussions of an informal nature at official level with USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and Agricultural Research Service.

Press Releases

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many press releases have been issued by her Department in each month of 2002.

Elliot Morley: Our records show that the DEFRA Press Office have issued a total of 169 press releases in the first four calendar months of 2002.
	
		
			  Press releases issued 
		
		
			 January 44 
			 February 33 
			 March 48 
			 April 44 
			 Total 169

Flooding

David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will estimate the cost to the Environment Agency and local authorities of sandbag deployment in areas experiencing and prone to flooding in each of the last five years.

Elliot Morley: The cost of sandbag deployment is highly variable and is not recorded separately from other costs of dealing with flooding emergencies. For example, in emergency situations, bags can be supplied full or empty. They may be filled manually on site or by bagging machines, if access to the problem area is easy. Alternatively, they may be filled at a central depot and transported by road or air, as for example occurred in the north-east during autumn 2000.
	The information requested is therefore not available and cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate costs.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Zimbabwe

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures the Government are taking to ensure that international aid given to Zimbabwe is linked to (a) allowing UN observers into the country and (b) land reform.

Clare Short: There are no links between our humanitarian aid, which is managed outside of Government channels, and land reform. The UN already has a large presence in Zimbabwe implementing emergency programmes. This includes the presence of food programme monitors in 19 districts. Our aid for Zimbabwe is confined to humanitarian assistance, and the prevention and mitigation of HIV/AIDS.

United Nations Commission on Human Rights

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which resolutions were supported by the UK representatives at the recent annual session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.

Denis MacShane: I have been asked to reply.
	This year the Commission passed over 100 resolutions. The UK supported (through co-sponsorship and in votes) 72 resolutions including those on the death penalty, a draft optional protocol to the Convention Against Torture, rights of the child, freedom of expression, torture and the rights of persons with disabilities. We also co-sponsored initiatives on countries including Iraq, Burma, Sudan, Cuba, East Timor, Cambodia, Colombia and Israel and the Occupied Territories.
	I will send the hon. Member a full voting record, which shows how each country voted on each resolution and the outcome of the texts. A copy will also be placed in the House of Commons Library.

United Nations Commission on Human Rights

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the outcome of the recent annual session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.

Denis MacShane: I have been asked to reply.
	Promotion of human rights is at the heart of our foreign policy. The Commission on Human Rights is the UN's main human rights forum. The UK is committed to playing a major role at CHR, and has been one of its most active and committed members since its inception in 1946. The recent session adopted over 100 resolutions on human rights issues. The UK actively supported over 70 of these. Particular achievements were resolutions on a draft optional protocol to the Convention Against Torture, the death penalty, rights of people with disabilities and rights of the child, and the Commission's condemnation of human rights violations in Burma, Iraq, Sudan, Cuba and the Democratic Republic of Congo. We were, however, disappointed by the lack of progress in some areas, including racism, and the reluctance of the Commission to condemn human rights violations in some parts of the world, including Zimbabwe, Iran and Chechnya. The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs addressed the plenary of this year's Commission on 18 April. A copy of his speech can be found on the FCO website.

Subcontinent

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent representations she has made to the Governments of India and Pakistan regarding their policy on land mines.

Denis MacShane: I have been asked to reply.
	Since July 1998, when the United Kingdom became a state party to the Ottawa Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti- Personnel Mines, we have lobbied all users of land mines, including India and Pakistan, to ratify the Convention. Both states claim political and defence reasons for not doing so.

TRANSPORT

Railways

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when the GNER franchise will next be advertised.

David Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
	The current franchise agreement expires in April 2005. The Strategic Rail Authority will put arrangements in place for awarding a new franchise, in good time and in the light of progress on the development of the proposed East Coast Main Line infrastructure upgrade.

Railways

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  whether inspection bodies operating in the UK railway systems are accredited by UKAS;
	(2)  whether UKAS accredited personnel certification is used for those undertaking track maintenance and safety;
	(3)  if the sub-contractors employed by Railtrack operate quality management systems certified by UKAS accredited certification bodies.

David Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
	I understand that there are currently no certification bodies accredited by UKAS for railway specific purposes. UKAS will provide advice to the Strategic Rail Authority on the appointment of notified bodies under the Railways (Interoperability) (High-Speed) Regulations 2002.

Railways

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list (a) the contractors and (b) sub-contractors responsible to Railtrack for maintenance of the track for each operating zone; what changes have taken place since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
	My Department does not hold the information requested, which are operational matters for Railtrack.

Railways

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions whether (a) he and (b) his officials have met directors of Network Rail since they announced their bid for Railtrack.

David Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
	It is not the normal practice of the Government to discuss details of meetings or discussions with private individuals or companies.

Railways

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions whether train operating companies' driving staff are required to carry, and complete when they judge necessary, report forms detailing irregularities, incidents and other matters related to safe operation of the railways which are the responsibility of rail companies, their contractors and their sub-contractors.

David Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
	Train operating companies have various reporting forms on which drivers record delays and other incidents as they occur. Drivers submit these written reports to their line management at the earliest opportunity and before signing off duty. These forms usually have a section that prompts action by the train operator's management to inform Railtrack of incidents as necessary.
	Drivers are required to report to the signaller all incidents that have an immediate effect on the safety of train operation or on the operation of the line. Reports are made at the time of the incident by either cab secure radio or signal post telephone.

Railways

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what discussions (a) he, (b) his Ministers and (c) his officials have had with the Solicitor-General on the case for a corporate manslaughter charge arising from the Paddington rail crash since 20 May.

David Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
	None.

Railways

Archie Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment (a) his Department and (b) the Strategic Rail Authority has undertaken of the ability of station operators to conform with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

David Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
	The Strategic Rail Authority published its code of practice "Train and Station Services For Disabled Passengers" on 6 February 2002. The Authority is currently reviewing each train operators Disabled People's Protection Policy (DPPP) against its code of practice and its DPPP guidance to identify where current facilities need to be improved.

Railways

Mike Hall: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has received the report of the rail industry interview process carried out by Mercer Management Consulting.

John Spellar: Following the High Court's decision to place Railtrack plc into administration last October, the Government wanted the development of railway policy to be based on a full understanding of the issues facing the rail industry. The Government therefore commissioned Mercer Management Consulting to manage a series of interviews with rail industry stakeholders to gather views about all aspects of the UK railways. Mercer kept the Government informed of the views expressed throughout the process and has now produced a report summarising the key messages heard. This has been made public today, and copies have been placed in the House Libraries.

Uff-Cullen Recommendations

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which of the Uff-Cullen recommendations have been implemented.

David Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
	The Health and Safety Commission (HSC) published the first action plan/progress report, indicating firm commitments to implement the recommendations of the Joint Inquiry into Train Protection Systems, on 27 September 2001. A copy is available in the House Library. The HSE are currently analysing progress towards implementation of the recommendations with the intention of publishing a further progress report before the end of July 2002. A copy will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Dibden Bay Planning Inquiry

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the planning inquiry at Dibden Bay will report.

David Jamieson: The inquiry is currently timetabled to finish at the end of this year. On that basis we are expecting to receive the inspector's report in the latter half of 2003.

Dibden Bay Planning Inquiry

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library copies of the evidence that his Department has given to the planning inquiry at Dibden Bay.

David Jamieson: My Department has not supplied any evidence to the Dibden Bay inquiry.

Traffic Management

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what guidance he gives to local authorities and to elected mayors on the timing sequence of traffic lights on trunk roads to ensure that congestion is minimised.

John Spellar: I have been asked to reply.
	The Highways Agency issues advice on the safety-related timings for traffic signals. These are contained in their Design Manual for Roads and Bridges.

Traffic Management

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will take steps to introduce during non-rush hour periods traffic lights which have a light vehicle flow which are switched to show only a flashing amber light in each direction.

John Spellar: I have been asked to reply.
	We do not think this is appropriate. A short flashing amber stage is already used at Pelican pedestrian crossings and has a specific meaning—if there are no pedestrians on the crossing the driver may proceed with caution. The same signal sequence cannot safely be used to indicate a different message.
	The adoption of this proposal could confuse drivers and increase the likelihood of accidents at junctions, particularly those where the visibility of crossing traffic is limited, for example, by difficult junction geometry.
	It is believed that the flashing amber sequence was introduced in the USA to help counter the inherent inefficiencies of fixed-time signals, particularly at off- peak times. As most traffic signals in the UK are traffic responsive, there would be little if any improvement in efficiency from adopting this proposal because our traffic signals are able to respond to varying traffic demands without compromising road safety.

Channel Tunnel

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the arrangements to secure rail freight through the channel tunnel; and who will pay for them.

David Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
	It is for the French railway industry and public authorities to ensure that rail freight through the channel tunnel is not disrupted by incursions into the Fréthun freight yard. SNCF has just announced investment of euro 7.5 million to improve physical security measures at Fréthun. I understand that this will be funded by Réseau Ferré de France.

Swanwick Air Traffic Control Centre

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made by (a) the Health and Safety Executive and (b) the Civil Aviation Authority of the operation of the new air traffic control centre at Swanwick; if he will place copies of related documentation in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban) on 10 June 2002, Official Report, columns 759–60W.
	The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the air safety regulator, gave National Air Traffic Services its full approval to take Swanwick into operation. Assessments made by the CAA are a matter for that organisation.

Swanwick Air Traffic Control Centre

John Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on recent safety levels at the Air Traffic Control Centre in Swanick with special reference to reports of the (a) Health and Safety Executive and (b) Civil Aviation Authority.

David Jamieson: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban) on 10 June 2002, Official Report, columns 759–60W.
	The Civil Aviation Authority, the air safety regulator, remains satisfied that there are no breaches of the CAA safety regulations nor is flight safety affected.

Working Time Directive (Maritime Sector)

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps are being taken by the Department to monitor the effects of the implementation of the EU working time directive in the maritime sector.

David Jamieson: holding answer 10 June 2002
	When the directive is implemented in the UK the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, as the competent authority, will be responsible for enforcing its provisions and monitoring its operation.

Working Time Directive (Maritime Sector)

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress the Department is making in implementing the EU working time directive in the maritime sector.

David Jamieson: holding answer 10 June 2002
	Regulations are in preparation to implement the directive in the UK.

Working Time Directive (Maritime Sector)

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the need in implementing the EU working time directive to include measures to limit the maximum number of hours worked in the maritime sector.

David Jamieson: holding answer 10 June 2002
	In implementing the working time directive in the maritime sector the UK, like several of its EU partners, has elected to apply the option within the directive of specifying the minimum hours of daily and weekly rest which must be provided to seafarers. The maximum number of hours which may be worked each day and each week can be calculated by reference to these minima.

Passenger Transport Authorities

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what benchmarks are laid down for staffing levels in PTAs.

David Jamieson: None.

Roads (Newcastle to Edinburgh)

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what planned works there are on the (a) A68, (b) A696 and (c) A7 between Newcastle and Edinburgh;
	(2)  what his estimate is for the increase in traffic on the (a) A68, (b) A696 and (c) A7 between Newcastle and Edinburgh over the lifetime of the 10-year plan;
	(3)  if he will list the major infrastructure work carried out on the (a) A68, (b) A696 and (c) A7 between Newcastle and Edinburgh in the last 15 years, in each case giving (i) the aim and nature of the works, (ii) the name of the Government body responsible, (iii) the length of time the works took and (iv) the costs of the works.

David Jamieson: I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency, Tim Matthews, to write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Tim Matthews to Mrs. Theresa May, dated 11 June 2002
	I have been asked by the Secretary of State for Transport to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the A68, A696 and A7 between Newcastle and Edinburgh.
	The Highways Agency only has responsibility for trunk roads in England, in this case the A696, part of the A68 and a short section of the A7 in England between Carlisle and the Scottish border that is earmarked for detrunking. Roads in Scotland, including the remaining sections of the A68 and A7, are the responsibility of the Scottish Executive.
	The only major infrastructure work carried out over the last 15 years on the A68/A696 was the building of the A696 Woolsington Bypass which connected to the A1 Newcastle Western Bypass providing better access to Newcastle International Airport. The scheme was completed in 1990, was delivered by the then Department of Transport and cost £12.6 million.
	Improvement works currently planned for the A68/A696 include carriageway widening and resurfacing of the A696 at Heeston Bank, carriageway resurfacing and bridge deck waterproofing on the A68 between Whitelees Farm and Carter Bar, bridge deck waterproofing on the A68 at Rochester and various small highway improvements on the A696 at Ponteland.
	On behalf of the Ministry of Defence, we plan to harden verges along the A696 to provide passing points for Army tank convoys travelling to and from the MOD Otterburn Training Area. We hope to finish these works by November 2003.
	The Highways Agency does not forecast increases in traffic for specific roads. However, the growth in traffic on rural single carriageway roads in the National Road Traffic Forecast 1997 is forecast to be 22% by 2011, relative to 1996 levels.
	If you require any further information, Peter Moffatt in our Leeds Office will be happy to assist you. He can be contacted on 0113 283 6503.

Roads (Newcastle to Edinburgh)

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) cars, motorbikes and vans, (b) lorries and (c) camper-vans and caravans used the (i) A68, (ii) A696 and (iii) A7 between Newcastle and Edinburgh on an average day in the last 12 months.

David Jamieson: The available information on the average numbers of vehicles per day on the A696/A68/A7 route between Newcastle and Edinburgh in 2000, is given in the table:
	
		
			 Vehicle type Number 
		
		
			 Cars 5,041 
			 Motorcycles 68 
			 LGV (vans) 639 
			 HGV (lorries) 446

Road Haulage Vehicles

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road haulage vehicles were inspected by the vehicle inspectorate in each of the last three years.

David Jamieson: Information about the vehicle inspectorate's enforcement activities for the three years to the end of March 2001 is published in the inspectorate's Effectiveness Report 2001, a copy of which has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Road Haulage Vehicles

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what resources were provided for inspections of road haulage vehicles with regard to overloading and vehicle drivers' hours offences, in each of the last three years.

David Jamieson: Traffic examiners (TEs) carry out weighings and check compliance with drivers' hours legislation as part of their duties. The vehicle inspectorate (VI) employed 175 TEs in 1999–2000 and 2000–01. The number of TEs increased to 209 at the end of 2001–02 in response to additional funding from the Road Haulage Forum. In addition to VI's network of permanent weighbridge sites, a number of mobile weighpads were introduced in 2000–01 which have improved VI's ability to target its checks. Work will be done in 2002–03 to test electronic tachograph analysis equipment which will improve the examiner's ability to detect drivers' hours and other offences.

Parking

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much in the last financial year for which figures are available each local authority in England and Wales has raised from the issuing of (a) parking permits, (b) parking meters and (c) pay and display systems.

John Spellar: I have been asked to reply.
	Separate statistics on local authority income from parking permits, parking meters and pay and display systems are not collected centrally. A table showing the expenditure on and income from parking for local authorities in England in 2000–01 has been placed in the Libraries of the House. Local authorities in Wales spent £10.72 million on parking and received income of £16.58 million in 2000–01.

Railtrack

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what powers the administrators of Railtrack have to sell (a) major stations, (b) other property and (c) other land assets independently of the remainder of the rail network.

David Jamieson: In accordance with section 59 of the Railways Act 1993, the railway administration order made in respect of Railtrack plc directs that the affairs, business and property of the company shall be managed by the administrators for the achievement of the purposes of the administration order. The purposes of the order include transferring the network undertaking as a going concern and ensuring that the management of the rail network can be properly carried on pending a transfer.
	The administrators have the power to sell major stations, other property and other land assets, but may use it only to achieve the purposes of the administration order. Furthermore, to protect the public interest, it is a condition of its network licence that Railtrack plc (in administration) may not dispose of land without the consent of the Rail Regulator.

Railtrack

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many full-time engineers were employed by Railtrack who worked on (a) maintenance and (b) enhancements and projects on 24 September 2001; how many there are; and how many have joined the company since 5 October 2001.

David Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the right hon. Member for Wokingham (Mr. Redwood) on 24 May 2002, Official Report, column 617W. Further information is not held in the form requested.

Vehicle Registration

Andrew Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to improve the vehicle registration system.

John Spellar: Some months ago the Department undertook a review of the vehicle registration system in partnership with the insurance industry. Research was undertaken by the Jill Dando Institute of Crime Science, University College London (JDI). The review examined ways of enhancing the accuracy of databases, improving enforcement arrangements and providing more reliable services to benefit all motorists. The JDI report made 11 recommendations. The first of these, the introduction of continuous registration, has already been accepted and enabling provisions have been included in the Finance Bill. The details of those provisions and the other recommendations will be discussed in detail with stakeholders prior to implementation. I have made available copies of the JDI report in the Library of the House.

Cycling

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many kilometres were cycled per person in each of the last three years.

David Jamieson: The latest data available, from the National Travel Survey, cover the average distance cycled for those living in Great Britain for the years 1998, 1999 and 2000:
	
		
			  Distance cycled per person per year (kilometres) 
		
		
			 1998 58 
			 1999 68 
			 2000 59 
		
	
	The volatility of the single year figures is likely to be a result of the relatively small sample sizes and the geographical clustering of the sample. Cycling patterns over individual years are also very dependent on the weather.

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the average carbon dioxide emissions for a motorist using their car in the last 12 months in the UK.

David Jamieson: In 2000 (the latest year for which data are available), it is estimated that average carbon dioxide emissions from cars in the UK were three tonnes.

International Flights

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many international flights there were from the UK (a) over the North Atlantic, (b) to other EU countries and (c) to other world destinations in each quarter of the last five years.

David Jamieson: The number of international flights from the UK (a) over the North Atlantic (b) to other EU countries and (c) to all other world destinations in each quarter of the last five years is shown in the table. Flights are attributed only to their final overseas destination and not, if any, to intermediate destinations. There were a similar number of international flights arriving in the UK.
	
		Flights from the UK over the North Atlantic(3)
		
			   Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 
		
		
			 1997 8,786 11,053 12,782 10,677 
			 1998 9,840 12,226 13,782 11,674 
			 1999 10,733 12,730 14,208 12,103 
			 2000 11,380 13,256 14,550 12,332 
			 2001 11,442 13,597 14,171 10,897 
		
	
	(3) Flights to USA and Canada
	
		Flights from the UK to other EU countries
		
			   Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 
		
		
			 1997 77,409 92,483 99,661 86,195 
			 1998 83,351 99,510 109,436 93,357 
			 1999 89,997 106,602 117,345 99,812 
			 2000 97,906 115,318 127,260 105,324 
			 2001 100,194 119,921 130,702 102,997 
		
	
	Note:
	For the purpose of this analysis Gibraltar has been included in 'other EU countries'
	
		Flights from the UK to other world destinations
		
			   Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 
		
		
			 1997 29,621 34,194 36,624 33,264 
			 1998 31,363 35,272 38,332 34,219 
			 1999 33,240 36,186 38,917 34,216 
			 2000 33,074 36,203 39,577 35,725 
			 2001 33,852 37,537 40,031 34,329 
		
	
	Note:
	Flights are attributed to the overseas country of destination and not to each point of call. For example a flight whose route is Gatwick—Paris—Tunis is allocated only to 'other world destinations'.

International Flights

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidelines he has issued to the CAA on the relationship between the number of flights (a) over the North Atlantic, (b) to other EU countries and (c) to other world destinations, and the level of the price cap that the CAA places on the fees that NATS charges airlines.

David Jamieson: I have issued no guidelines on these matters to the CAA. Although the initial price cap on NATS was set by the Government, as is usual when a public entity is transferred to the private sector, the CAA is the economic regulator of NATS and the Government do not interfere with its discharge of its economic regulatory duties.

High Speed Network

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money has been set aside as part of (a) the SRA Plan and (b) the 10-Year Plan for the implementation of the EU directives on interoperability on the high speed network.

David Jamieson: Neither the 10-Year Plan or the SRA Strategic plan identify specific sums for implementing the high speed interoperability directive which does not, in itself, require projects to be initiated. However, new high speed projects will have to comply with the Directive and the cost of implementation will be taken into account when those projects are developed.

High Speed Network

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the costs of implementing the EU directives on interoperability on the high speed network.

David Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to the regulatory impact assessment produced in support of the Railways (Interoperability) (High-Speed) Regulations 2002 implementing the high-speed interoperability directive, a copy of which was placed in the Libraries of the House on 25 April 2002.

High Speed Network

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the percentage of the possible costs for implementing the EU directives on interoperability on the high speed network, that will be borne by (a) the Government, (b) the successor to Railtrack, (c) the SRA, (d) freight rail companies and (e) passenger rail companies.

David Jamieson: No assessment has been made of the potential allocation of costs arising from implementation of the high speed interoperability directive which does not, in itself, require projects to be initiated. However, new high speed projects will have to comply with the directive and, to the extent that this results in costs being incurred by network or train operators (which will vary from project to project), those costs will be taken into account in the railway funding and charging regime in the usual way.

Non-departmental Bodies

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the non-departmental bodies attached to his Department that have a responsibility for transport issues, listing their responsibilities in each case.

David Jamieson: The main non-departmental public bodies whose responsibilities are transport issues, are:
	The Commission for Integrated Transport's remit is to provide independent advice to Government on the implementation of the integrated transport agenda, to monitor developments across transport, environment, health and other sectors and to review progress. Its responsibilities are UK-wide in respect of those matters reserved to the UK Government after devolution to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and it also advises Government on all aspects of integrated transport policy in England.
	The Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee advises Government and industry on the transport and built environment needs of disabled people.
	The Northern Lighthouse Board and Trinity House Lighthouse Service provide marine aids to navigation to make transport safer.
	The Strategic Rail Authority's purposes are set out at section 205 of the Transport Act 2000.
	The Traffic Commissioners have responsibility in their geographical area for the licensing of operators of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and of buses and coaches (PSVs); the registration of local bus services; and disciplinary action against drivers of HGVs and PSVs.

Bus Companies

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what incentives he has given to encourage bus companies to convert their fleets to use more environmentally friendly fuels.

David Jamieson: The Government have introduced a range of measures to encourage environmentally friendly buses. These include: lower fuel duties for cleaner fuels; reduced vehicle excise duty for buses that meet tighter emissions standards; and grants from TransportAction for buses that run on cleaner fuels or are fitted with pollution reducing technology. In addition the Green Fuels Challenge programme is supporting, through duty exemptions, hydrogen fuel cell buses.

Hazardous Materials

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) road and (b) rail accidents there have been in each of the last three years which involved vehicles transporting dangerous or hazardous materials.

David Jamieson: The number of road and rail accidents notified to the Health and Safety Executive under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations for 1995 for the past three years is:
	
		
			  1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01(4) 
		
		
			 Overturning or serious damage to a tank while conveying by road prescribed dangerous substances, or the uncontrolled release or fire involved the substance being conveyed 28 21 26 
			 
			 Uncontrolled release or escape of a dangerous substance, or a fire involving the dangerous substance, when being conveyed by road in a vehicle 24 44 74 
			 
			 Rail accidents involving vehicles transporting dangerous goods 11 4 4 
		
	
	(4) Provisional

Electoral Arrangements

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what estimate he has made of the (a) numbers and (b) percentage of residents who were not registered on the electoral register in (i) the UK, (ii) Greater London and (iii) Enfield in each of the last five years.

Yvette Cooper: I have been asked to reply.
	Data on which to make such an estimate are not available.

Electoral Arrangements

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much public expenditure was incurred in organising the 2001 general election in (a) the UK, (b) Greater London and (c) Enfield; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: I have been asked to reply.
	The funds made available to acting returning officers to conduct the 2001 general election were as follows:
	(a) England and Wales—£27 million;
	(b) Greater London—£5 million; and
	(c) Enfield—£153,000.
	These figures represent advances made; when final accounts are submitted and paid they are expected to rise. In addition in England and Wales, around £18 million was paid for the delivery of candidates' election material and for electoral equipment. No further breakdown of this figure is available in the form requested. The responsibility for funding parliamentary elections in Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Northern Ireland, respectively.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Pensions

Dave Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will introduce proposals to change the pensions rules to remove the ability of companies to take contribution holidays from their employees' pension schemes.

Ian McCartney: The Government do not have any plans to change the rules about, or to prevent firms from taking, contribution holidays from their defined benefit pension schemes. Under Inland Revenue rules, pension funds that are funded in excess of 105 per cent. of their liabilities must take action to reduce that surplus. That action might take the form of improved benefits for members, contribution holidays for members or sponsoring employers, or a taxable return to the employer.
	It is for the individual scheme (trustees) to decide how best to deal with a fund surplus according to the particular circumstances of each scheme.
	The Pensions Act 1995 provides that before any surplus is returned to an employer, all current and future pensions in payment should be increased annually in line with the retail prices index up to a maximum of 5 per cent. In addition, trustees have to satisfy themselves that the use of the surplus is in the interest of the members, and that members should be notified of the proposal.

Pensions

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the development of statutory money purchase illustrations and composite annual pension benefit statements.

Ian McCartney: We have been working closely with the Faculty of Actuaries and the Institute of Actuaries to produce regulations and guidance that will mean people paying toward money purchase benefits will, starting in April 2003, receive an annual illustration of what their future pension might be. Regulations were laid before the House on 20 May, and a technical memorandum has been published on the Faculty of Actuaries and Institute of Actuaries website.
	This is an important development that will help people plan more effectively for retirement.
	The combined pension forecasting service, that gives information about state and private pensions together, was launched in October 2001 at the industry's annual pensions show. Since that date, the service has been open to all pension providers to register their interest in participating.
	We are also looking at the feasibility of a composite pension forecast, where information about state pension would be combined with details of private pensions from more than one provider. This is still at a very early stage, but we are working closely with the office of the e-envoy and people in the pensions industry.

Departmental Staff (Scotland)

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what percentage of (a) civil service, (b) executive agencies and (c) non- departmental public body jobs under the remit of his Department are located in Scotland; and how many of each have been relocated to Scotland since May 1997.

Ian McCartney: Information on the number and percentage of Department for Work and Pensions jobs in Scotland as at 1 April 2002 is in the following table.
	None of these posts have relocated to Scotland since May 1997.
	
		
			   Number of posts Percentage of total DWP 
		
		
			 Executive agencies 12,255 12.2 
			 Independent statutory bodies 0 0 
			 Others 1,192 6.2 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The numbers are expressed in whole time equivalent rounded to the nearest whole number.
	2. The figures do not include casual posts.

Anti-fraud Hotline

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many calls have been dealt with by the anti-fraud hotline in the last year for which figures are available; how many cases of suspected fraud have been reported to the hotline; how many of these cases have been investigated; how many of them have led to a successful prosecution; and how many of them have led to a custodial sentence.

Malcolm Wicks: The National Benefit Fraud Hotline receives over 17,000 calls a month, resulting in more than two prosecutions a day.
	The available information is in the table.
	
		National Benefit Fraud Hotline 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002
		
			   Number 
		
		
			 Number of calls received 205,999 
			 Number of cases of suspected fraud reported(5) 161,052 
			 Number of resulting investigations 108,986 
			 Number of resulting benefit rate changes (6)6,385 
			 Number of prosecutions so far 768 
			 Number of resulting custodial sentences (7)Not available 
		
	
	(5) Including referrals received by telephone, e-mail and post.
	(6) Figures include increases and decreases and can relate either to fraud, client error or official error.
	(7) Information is not collated centrally on the number of custodial sentences arising from investigations as a direct result of calls to the hotline.
	Source:
	National Benefit Fraud Hotline Management Information.

Winter Fuel Payments

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations he has received about changing the eligibility for winter fuel payments when couples separate after the eligibility date; and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: Queries are received from time to time regarding revised entitlement to benefits following a change in a person's circumstances. However, entitlement to a winter fuel payment is based on the individual's circumstances in the qualifying week. Changes of circumstance occurring after that date are irrelevant but could affect entitlement to a winter fuel payment the following year.

Older People

John Lyons: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent steps he has taken to develop his Department's strategy to help older people.

Ian McCartney: In developing the Department for Work and Pension's strategy to help older people, the creation of the Pension Service is a major step forward. The Pension Service has a customer focus that will provide support to pensioners via 26 pension centres, backed by a local service providing face to face contact to those pensioners unable to use the telephone.
	Over the next 18 months the Pension Service will develop and implement the Government's new pension credit, which will provide additional income for some 3.9 million pensioners.
	In addition to this the Pension Service is working closely with other Government Departments, local authorities and voluntary organisations to improve services to older people. Groups such as Better Government for Older People and Partnerships Against Poverty are helping the Pension Service to develop its strategies and service while local partnerships, for example through Care Direct, are being pursued to provide a more joined up service to pensioners.
	For those older people not yet ready to retire, Jobcentre Plus will continue to provide support with new deal 50 plus and work to change employers attitudes to older people through the age positive campaign. In the longer term the Government will be legislating against age discrimination in employment by 2006.

Smoking

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the answer from the Secretary of State for Health of 21 May 2002, Official Report, column 302W, on smoking, if he will estimate the savings to public funds relating to pension payments as a consequence of premature deaths among smokers.

Ian McCartney: The information is not available.

SERPS

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what data he has collated on the proportion of people earning above £10,000 per year who have been contracted out of SERPS and the state second pension over the past three years.

Ian McCartney: The information requested is not available.

SERPS

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many individuals (a) receive SERPS and (b) have contributed to SERPS but are yet to receive any pension.

Ian McCartney: The latest figures available show that 6.24 million people were in receipt of an additional pension from SERPS 1 .
	The latest available information is that around 22.2 million people under state pension age have built up some entitlement to an additional pension from SERPS 2 .
	Sources:
	1 Pensions Strategy Computer System.
	2 National Insurance Recording System.

SERPS

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the (a) mean and (b) median payment of SERPS has been in the five most recent years for which he has data.

Ian McCartney: The information is in the table.
	
		Mean and median amounts of additional pension (SERPS) -- £ weekly
		
			   Mean amount Median amount 
		
		
			 31 March 1997 10.90 6.87 
			 31 March 1998 11.82 7.42 
			 31 March 1999 13.10 8.35 
			 31 March 2000 14.37 9.25 
			 31 March 2001 15.13 9.64 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Average amounts are based on pensioners' entitlement records on Pension Strategy Computer System at the date of extraction.
	2. Mean and Median amounts are rounded to the nearest penny.
	3. Figures are for GB only.
	Source:
	RP administrative data.

SERPS

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many pensioners he expects will be receiving SERPS in (a) five (b) 10 and (c) 15 years' time;
	(2)  what the (a) mean and (b) median payment of SERPS will be in (i) five, (ii) 10 and (iii) 15 years' time.

Ian McCartney: The information available is in the following table.
	
		
			   People in receipt of additional pension(8) (million) Mean amount of additional pension(8) (£ weekly) 
		
		
			 2007–08 8.6 19.60 
			 2012–13 9.9 21.70 
			 2017–18 10.6 23.05 
		
	
	(8) SERPS and the state second pension.
	Notes:
	1. Number of recipients of additional pension rounded to the nearest 100,000.
	2. Mean weekly amounts rounded to the nearest 5p, in 2002–03 prices.
	Source:
	Government Actuary's Department.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Key Stage 2 Tests

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many and what percentage of pupils were omitted from the calculation of the LEA average in KS2 performance tables in (a) 2000 and (b) 2001 because they met the criteria of having English as an additional language, being new to English schooling and having joined their primary school during years 5 or 6 in each.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries.

Key Stage 2 Tests

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what number and percentage of pupils were allowed additional time for completion of KS2 tests in 2002 because of special needs or EAL needs for each LEA.

Ivan Lewis: The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority collects information on special arrangements, including the use of additional time, from local education authorities at pupil and school level. The information for 2002 is currently being collected and figures will be available at the end of June 2002.

Further Education

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the areas where reorganisation of 16 to 19 provision has taken place in each year since 1997, listing in each case the general further education colleges, sixth form colleges and school sixth forms involved.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested is contained in tables, copies of which I have placed in the Library.

Further Education

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the proposals under consideration involving changes to the organisation of 16 to 19 provision.

Ivan Lewis: The Department has been informed of the following proposals for schools to open new, or close existing, sixth forms for which we understand a decision has not yet been made by the local School Organisation Committee:
	
		
			 Name of school LEA 
		
		
			 Proposals to establish new sixth forms  
			 The Giles School Lincolnshire 
			   
			 Proposals to close sixth forms  
			 Batley High School for Boys Kirklees 
			 Colne Valley High School Kirklees 
			 St. Thomas Becket RC High School Knowsley 
			 Stratford Foundation School Newham 
			 Tideway Community School East Sussex 
		
	
	Information held by the Department on proposals for the reorganisation of colleges in the FE sector is as follows:
	A proposal for Teesside College and Middlesbrough College to merge and to form Middlesbrough College has been submitted by the LSC to the Secretary of State.
	A feasibility study has been completed into the possible merger of Oxford College and North Oxfordshire College. The LSC has proposed that an area wide review of provision should be carried out before any decisions are made.
	Additionally, the organisation of 16–19 provision is reviewed in those local areas where a recent Area-Wide inspection has so recommended. In such cases the Learning and Skills Council is required to agree an Action Plan with local partners, before seeking Ministerial approval.

Pupil Absence

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the target proportion of pupil days to be lost through absence was for (a) each LEA and (b) England in each year since 1997.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 10 June 2002
	There is no target proportion of pupil days to be lost through absence for England. In the past local education authorities have only set targets for unauthorised absence through their Education Development plans. Local education authorities were asked to set new targets for the proportion of pupil days lost in their Education Development Plans this year, these targets will apply to the academic years 2002–03 and 2003–04. Education Development Plans are published by local education authorities.

Correspondence

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many letters were received by each Minister in her Department in each month since June 1997.

Ivan Lewis: The Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the volume of Members' correspondence received by departments. The Report for 2001 was published on Friday 24 May (22 May 2002, Official Report, column 326W). Copies of previous reports are available in the Library of the House. Information about other correspondence received by Ministers (ie Treat Official correspondence) is not held centrally and can be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

School Bullies

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance she has issued to appeals panels on overturning head teachers' decisions to exclude (a) bullies and (b) racist bullies.

Ivan Lewis: Earlier this year we consulted publicly on a draft revised version of the guidance on the use of exclusion in our Circular 10–99 'Social Inclusion: Pupil Support'. This made clear that the Secretary of State would normally regard it as inappropriate to reinstate a pupil permanently excluded for (among other things) persistent and defiant behaviour—which would encompass bullying including racist bullying. All forms of bullying need to be dealt with firmly by schools. We cannot direct appeal panels to take particular decisions in particular cases, but we have made clear that they should also consider the impact that a reinstatement might have on other members of the school community.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Local Taxes and Rates

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister what council tax and non-domestic rates collection rates were achieved by English billing authorities in 2001–02.

Nick Raynsford: I am publishing today figures showing that English councils have collected an extra £40 million in council taxes this year by simply improving on council tax collection rates. The figures show the good start of a joint initiative launched last year by us and the Local Government Association (LGA), to help poorly performing councils improve their collection rates.
	English councils had collected £12.84 billion in council taxes for 2001–02 by the end of March 2002. The figures represent 96.1 per cent. of the £13.36 billion collectable. This is an increase of 0.3 per cent. on the previous year.
	We recognise that council tax collection has therefore improved slightly, and that many councils are making a great effort. However, half a billion pounds was still uncollected last year. We recognise that this is money that could have been spent on local services and we believe there is still room for improvement. The Council Tax Collection Help Team which we set up with the LGA last year will continue its work to identify and tackle barriers to better performance and encourage good practice.
	We also recognise that the in-year collection rate does not provide the full picture of the work authorities put in to collecting council tax. We will also be collecting and publishing authorities' levels of arrears and performance in collecting them.
	The councils showing the best improvements in their performance include Hackney Council, which improved its collection rate from 67.8 per cent. during 2000–2001 to 74.0 per cent. this year, an increase of 6.2 percentage points; Lambeth Council, which improved its collection rate from 82.0 per cent. during 2000–2001 to 86.5 per cent. this year, an increase of 4.5 percentage points; and Southwark Council, which improved its collection rate from 87.1 per cent. during 2000–2001 to 90.2 per cent. this year, an increase of 3.1 percentage points.
	Other improving councils include North Hertfordshire, an increase of 2.8 percentage points, Waltham Forest, an increase of 2.6 percentage points, Castle Point, an increase of 2.5 percentage points, South Gloucestershire UA, an increase of 2.5 percentage points, and Oxford City, an increase of 2.4 percentage points.
	In addition, figures show that £14.42 billion in non- domestic rates for 2001–2002 had been collected by the end of March. This represents 97.9 per cent. of the £14.74 billion collectable, an improvement of 0.5 percentage points on last year.
	Background note "Information for the Minister (Not for the public domain)".

Local Authority Grant

Ann Coffey: To ask the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister how and when he intends to consult on new formulae for distributing general grant to local authorities in England.

Nick Raynsford: We will consult publicly on the new system over the summer, ahead of implementing change in the 2003–04 Local Government Finance Settlement. The consultation document will include the principles for the new system and will show the effects of a range of possible options for each formula. We intend to start the consultation by mid-July.

Indices of Deprivation

Paul Burstow: To ask the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister what plans his Department has to include in the Indices of Deprivation statistics on access to local services and public transport for those over 65 and 75 years in the most deprived wards; and whether indicators on age-related issues will be included in the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit's review of how the Indices of Deprivation may be developed.

Tony McNulty: The Indices of Deprivation (ID 2000) has been developed to provide a measure of how deprived a particular area (ward or local authority district) is relative to the rest of the country.
	The current 'Access to Services' domain measures the extent to which people have poor geographical access to certain key services. Three of the indicators included in the domain (access to post offices, large food shops and doctors surgeries) measure geographical access to services for people on low incomes (ie claimants of means-tested benefits). As such, this will include pensioners who are eligible for income support payments.
	The ID 2000 has been designed to reflect deprivation as experienced by all age groups, including the elderly. The forthcoming review on the further development of the indices will continue to maintain this objective.

Home Ownership

John Stanley: To ask the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister how many home-owners there were in (a) 1979, (b) 1997 and (c) at the latest date for which figures are available; and what percentage of the population this represented at each of these dates.

Tony McNulty: Consistent estimates of the number of owner occupied households are not available before 1981. For England, the information requested for 1981, 1979 and 2000 is given in the following table.
	
		Owner occupied households in England
		
			 Year Owner occupied households (thousand) All households (thousand) Percentage of owner occupiers 
		
		
			 1981 9,860 17,225 57 
			 1997–98 13,940 20,250 69 
			 2000–01 14,437 20,660 70 
		
	
	Source:
	Survey of English Housing, ODPM

House Fires

Theresa May: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many households were made homeless by house fires in each of the last six years.

Tony McNulty: Precise information is not collected centrally. Data presented in the quarterly Statistical Release on Statutory Homelessness includes the number of households accepted by local authorities where homelessness was due to an emergency (table 3), but this does not distinguish cases involving house fires. Copies of the latest Statistical Release, issued on 14 March 2002 and covering the period to end December 2001, are available in the Library.

House Fires

Theresa May: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people were (a) killed and (b) injured in house fires in the UK in each of the last six years, broken down by (i) deliberate and (ii) accidental fires.

Nick Raynsford: The following table shows the number of people killed or injured in deliberate and accidental dwelling 1 fires in the UK between 1995 and 2000.
	
		
			   Deliberate fires(10)  Accidental fires  
			  Deaths(11) Injuries(11) Deaths(11) Injuries(11) 
		
		
			 1995 78 1,932 481 11,176 
			 1996 76 2,026 488 12,163 
			 1997 65 2,019 497 12,877 
			 1998 59 2,152 454 12,827 
			 1999 65 2,068 398 12,556 
			 2000(12) 51 2,326 396 12,065 
		
	
	(9) Including caravans, houseboats and other non-building permanent dwellings.
	(10) Includes those fires where deliberate ignition is merely suspected.
	(11) Including brigade casualties.
	(12) Data for 2000 are provisional. Death figures have been estimated to take account of revisions expected to occur as a result of checks made against death certificates later in the year.

House Fires

Theresa May: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many house fires there were in each of the last six years broken down by (a) deliberate and (b) accidental fires in each fire authority.

Nick Raynsford: The information is contained in the table.
	
		Fires(13) in dwellings(14) by brigade area and motive, UK, 1995–2000
		
			  1995(15) 1996 1997  
			 Brigade area Total Accidental Malicious Total Accidental Malicious Total Accidental Malicious 
		
		
			 United Kingdom 66,401 52,761 13,640 71,709 57,456 14,253 72,492 58,708 13,784 
			 England and Wales 55,182 43,783 11,399 59,955 48,152 11,803 60,957 49,568 11,389 
			 England 52,175 41,212 10,963 56,626 45,396 11,230 57,584 46,783 10,800 
			   
			 England: Non-met counties 26,645 22,231 4,414 29,381 24,787 4,594 29,970 25,569 4,401 
			 Avon 841 689 152 980 814 166 1,047 896 151 
			 Bedfordshire 458 379 79 466 357 109 536 424 112 
			 Berkshire 559 492 67 646 568 78 671 596 75 
			 Buckinghamshire 646 543 104 726 643 83 738 631 107 
			 Cambridgeshire 491 395 96 562 433 129 579 453 126 
			 Cheshire 922 770 152 1,010 804 206 1,069 875 194 
			 Cleveland 1,117 545 571 954 581 373 852 594 258 
			 Cornwall 375 354 21 452 414 38 481 455 26 
			 Cumbria 543 459 84 609 517 92 587 505 82 
			 Derbyshire 644 555 89 710 603 107 773 650 123 
			 Devon 1,030 904 126 1,117 987 130 1,189 1,086 103 
			 Dorset 467 430 37 522 478 44 568 519 49 
			 Durham 658 530 128 653 539 114 719 566 153 
			 East Sussex 890 779 111 1,000 867 133 995 852 143 
			 Essex 1,015 883 132 1,091 978 113 1,041 918 123 
			 Gloucestershire 471 405 66 479 432 47 511 461 50 
			 Hampshire 1,138 993 145 1,410 1,159 251 1,321 1,141 180 
			 Hereford and Worcester 529 471 58 670 615 55 762 679 83 
			 Hertfordshire 725 644 80 903 805 98 951 853 98 
			 Humberside 907 695 211 1,018 797 221 1,082 797 285 
			 Isle of Wight 116 108 8 154 144 10 163 155 8 
			 Kent 1,176 1,001 175 1,316 1,110 206 1,401 1,217 184 
			 Lancashire 2,290 1,832 458 2,413 2,042 371 2,287 1,909 378 
			 Leicestershire 765 597 168 825 625 200 774 603 171 
			 Lincolnshire 404 337 68 429 338 91 475 412 63 
			 Norfolk 532 462 70 551 469 82 629 549 80 
			 North Yorkshire 450 406 44 567 524 43 476 433 43 
			 Northamptonshire 564 478 87 671 567 104 780 643 137 
			 Northumberland 277 239 38 358 312 46 324 271 53 
			 Nottinghamshire 1,028 771 257 1,161 897 264 1,158 937 221 
			 Oxfordshire 485 428 56 520 453 67 452 393 59 
			 Shropshire 370 317 53 370 315 55 382 340 42 
			 Somerset 341 314 28 363 338 25 389 350 39 
			 Staffordshire 875 739 135 983 820 163 956 827 129 
			 Suffolk 574 523 51 559 516 43 563 512 51 
			 Surrey 616 558 58 669 615 54 701 646 55 
			 Warwickshire 373 327 46 397 339 58 416 367 49 
			 West Sussex 607 555 52 626 565 61 670 597 73 
			 Wiltshire 375 323 52 468 404 64 498 454 44 
			 Isles of Scilly 0 0 0 3 3 0 2 2 0 
			   
			 England: Met-counties 25,530 18,981 6,549 27,245 20,609 6,636 27,613 21,214 6,399 
			 Greater Manchester 4,425 3,196 1,230 4,835 3,527 1,308 4,934 3,607 1,327 
			 Merseyside 2,720 1,861 860 2,782 1,955 827 2,932 2,009 923 
			 South Yorkshire 1,371 1,093 279 1,441 1,092 349 1,416 1,116 300 
			 Tyne and Wear 2,081 1,180 902 1,913 1,239 674 2,117 1,456 661 
			 West Midlands 4,240 3,141 1,099 4,643 3,418 1,225 4,610 3,504 1,106 
			 West Yorkshire 2,656 1,930 725 2,925 2,142 783 2,875 2,156 719 
			 Greater London 8,037 6,581 1,455 8,705 7,236 1,469 8,729 7,366 1,363 
			   
			 Wales 3,006 2,571 435 3,329 2,756 573 3,373 2,784 589 
			 North Wales 686 615 71 805 704 101 758 656 102 
			 Mid and West Wales 915 834 81 949 816 133 999 860 139 
			 South Wales 1,406 1,122 284 1,576 1,237 339 1,616 1,268 348 
			   
			 Northern Ireland 2,067 1,558 509 2,238 1,606 632 2,210 1,616 594 
			   
			 Scotland 9,152 7,420 1,732 9,516 7,698 1,818 9,325 7,524 1,801 
			 Strathclyde 4,620 3,776 845 4,685 3,823 862 4,716 3,845 871 
			 Highland and Islands 339 321 17 309 288 21 288 269 19 
			 Grampian 668 576 92 757 632 125 711 605 106 
			 Tayside 772 628 144 834 670 161 780 647 133 
			 Lothian and Borders 1,765 1,252 513 1,906 1,367 539 1,832 1,264 568 
			 Fife 469 391 78 475 404 71 463 410 53 
			 Central 349 317 32 367 329 38 356 317 39 
			 Dumfries 171 158 12 186 185 1 179 167 12 
		
	
	
		
			  1998 1999 2000(16)  
			 Brigade area Total Accidental Malicious Total Accidental Malicious Total Accidental Malicious 
		
		
			 United Kingdom 71,077 57,718 13,359 72,228 58,366 13,862 70,897 56,655 14,242 
			 England and Wales 59,680 48,701 10,979 60,808 49,497 11,311 59,413 47,929 11,484 
			 England 56,464 46,052 10,412 57,490 46,744 10,746 56,184 45,277 10,907 
			   
			 England: Non-met counties 29,463 25,008 4,455 29,942 25,563 4,379 29,243 24,539 4,704 
			 Avon 974 831 143 970 826 144 976 820 156 
			 Bedfordshire 485 368 117 431 366 65 463 374 89 
			 Berkshire 695 612 83 726 673 53 687 616 71 
			 Buckinghamshire 740 636 104 679 609 70 669 569 100 
			 Cambridgeshire 569 442 127 547 432 115 547 444 103 
			 Cheshire 1,067 888 179 999 835 164 999 818 181 
			 Cleveland 776 545 231 836 562 274 951 658 293 
			 Cornwall 445 400 45 436 408 28 470 426 44 
			 Cumbria 641 576 65 609 535 74 551 466 85 
			 Derbyshire 775 655 120 783 663 120 734 617 117 
			 Devon 1,144 1,055 89 1,226 1,128 98 1,290 1,118 102 
			 Dorset 510 462 48 491 446 45 530 478 52 
			 Durham 702 601 101 677 567 110 690 572 118 
			 East Sussex 1,043 904 139 1,128 993 135 1,038 900 138 
			 Essex 1,024 879 145 1,220 1,064 156 1,265 1,073 192 
			 Gloucestershire 512 460 52 521 474 47 456 408 48 
			 Hampshire 1,428 1,212 216 1,491 1,290 201 1,407 1,269 138 
			 Hereford and Worcester 743 679 64 689 640 49 594 537 57 
			 Hertfordshire 894 812 82 947 856 91 936 851 85 
			 Humberside 1,060 788 272 1,104 820 284 1,043 743 300 
			 Isle of Wight 169 162 7 165 164 1 151 141 10 
			 Kent 1,318 1,113 205 1,272 1,108 164 1,242 1,051 191 
			 Lancashire 2,324 1,894 430 2,273 1,729 544 2,299 1,770 529 
			 Leicestershire 838 607 231 737 567 170 656 488 168 
			 Lincolnshire 457 379 78 519 446 73 512 444 68 
			 Norfolk 574 471 103 583 508 75 584 489 95 
			 North Yorkshire 503 451 52 545 479 66 666 597 69 
			 Northamptonshire 714 596 118 715 580 135 653 501 152 
			 Northumberland 311 251 60 308 269 39 332 266 66 
			 Nottinghamshire 1,074 870 204 1,109 886 223 1,043 799 244 
			 Oxfordshire 509 461 48 474 421 53 490 429 61 
			 Shropshire 357 296 61 436 380 56 361 317 44 
			 Somerset 385 351 34 387 349 38 436 390 46 
			 Staffordshire 985 866 119 1,182 1,047 135 926 778 148 
			 Suffolk 523 472 51 554 500 54 510 447 63 
			 Surrey 666 615 51 629 588 41 645 585 60 
			 Warwickshire 396 343 53 402 349 53 353 287 66 
			 West Sussex 648 570 78 659 577 82 651 544 107 
			 Wiltshire 484 434 50 482 428 54 435 387 48 
			 Isles of Scilly 1 1 0 1 1 0 2 2 0 
			   
			 England: Met-counties 27,001 21,044 5,957 27,548 21,181 6,367 26,941 20,738 6,203 
			 Greater Manchester 4,782 3,531 1,251 5,120 3,697 1,423 4,934 3,654 1,280 
			 Merseyside 2,914 2,023 891 3,018 2,009 1,009 3,023 1,975 1,048 
			 South Yorkshire 1,483 1,165 318 1,433 1,092 341 1,463 1,092 371 
			 Tyne and Wear 2,318 1,721 597 2,241 1,696 545 2,210 1,717 493 
			 West Midlands 4,400 3,428 972 4,429 3,444 985 4,243 3,201 1,042 
			 West Yorkshire 2,582 1,940 642 2,505 1,877 628 2,510 1,904 606 
			 Greater London 8,522 7,236 1,286 8,802 7,366 1,436 8,558 7,195 1,363 
			   
			 Wales 3,216 2,649 567 3,318 2,753 565 3,229 2,652 577 
			 North Wales 704 607 97 824 704 120 776 674 102 
			 Mid and West Wales 955 831 124 1,029 884 145 984 566 118 
			 South Wales 1,557 1,211 346 1,465 1,165 300 1,469 1,112 357 
			   
			 Northern Ireland 2,243 1,601 642 2,005 1,398 607 2,175 1,505 670 
			   
			 Scotland 9,154 7,416 1,738 9,415 7,471 1,644 9,309 7,221 2,088 
			 Strathclyde 4,575 3,795 780 4,727 3,774 953 257 3,685 1,007 
			 Highland and Islands 322 300 22 288 274 14 273 257 16 
			 Grampian 761 658 103 885 762 123 864 723 141 
			 Tayside 730 603 127 795 636 159 788 619 169 
			 Lothian and Borders 1,752 1,207 545 1803 1,241 562 1,765 1,174 591 
			 Fife 510 422 88 437 363 74 418 326 92 
			 Central 354 300 54 326 282 44 335 279 56 
			 Dumfries 150 131 19 154 139 15 174 158 16 
		
	
	(13) Including late call, heat and smoke (LCHS) incidents. Fires are sampled and weighted to brigade totals.
	(14) Includes caravans, houseboats and other non-building structures used solely as a permanent dwelling.
	(15) Excludes some late call, heat and smoke incidents.
	(16) Figures for 2000 are provisional.

Sound Insulation

Theresa May: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent estimate he has made of the cost per household of improving sound insulation in houses affected by poor sound insulation.

Tony McNulty: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has not made an estimate of the cost of improving sound insulation for the existing housing stock. However, in a House of Lords ruling on two Appeal Court cases determined in 1999, it was estimated that the average cost of installing sound installation in the flats in question was £8,000 per flat. The cost in any particular case would depend on the nature and extent of the work required.

Electronic Services

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister of the central Government Departments and agencies required to meet the Prime Minister's target for electronically available services by 2005, what common problems have been revealed through the regular e-business strategy documents; and how they are being addressed.

Douglas Alexander: I have been asked to reply.
	The latest e-business strategies were submitted to the e-envoy during summer 2001. An analysis of the strategies revealed several common issues.
	There is a need for staff to gain necessary skills. Departments are tackling this in a number of ways with support from the centre. For example the office of the e-envoy has developed a skills map for e-government which identifies all the skills that might need to be considered when implementing e-services. In addition, the Centre for Management and Policy Studies ran a series of events where the leadership dimensions of successful e-government projects was addressed.
	Additional resources are required to support IT-enabled change programmes—this is being addressed in part under the current spending review. In addition Departments may bid for funding from the Capital Modernisation Fund and Invest to Save Budget.
	Departments need to update existing, or legacy, IT systems. This is a matter for Departments to address. Centrally, the Government Gateway infrastructure allows joined-up government services to be delivered electronically.
	In order to more reliably assess the costs and benefits from e-government, the office of the e-envoy are considering with HM Treasury the case for developing additional guidance addressing the appraisal of risks involved in realising the benefits from e-delivery projects.
	Internet-enabled 'intermediaries'—acting on behalf of their customers—can provide better access to e-government services for those without other means to benefit from online access. The office of the e-envoy has worked with intermediaries, including the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux (NACAB) which has received funding to assist its advisers in 1,400 centres to deliver e-government services and advice to individuals who may not have direct internet access themselves.

Air Miles

Gregory Barker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  how many air miles he has been awarded from flights at public expense since 1 June 2001;
	(2)  how many (a) air miles and (b) other airline rewards members of his Department have been awarded in total since 1 June 2001.

Douglas Alexander: I have been asked to reply.
	All travel arrangements for Ministers are made in accordance with the rules set out in the "Ministerial Code" and "Travel by Ministers", copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.
	Travel arrangements by officials are delegated to Departments in accordance with the Civil Service Management Code.
	Travel by officials in my Department is subject to internal Cabinet Office guidelines, which state that benefits of frequent flying and similar schemes deriving from expenditure on official business should be used for official travel or forgone, as set out in the answer given by the then Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 15 March 1994, Official Report, column 646W.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Holiday Industry

Colin Breed: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to create an independent regulator for the holiday industry; and if she will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: A considerable body of consumer protection legislation applies to the holiday industry and there are no plans to create an independent regulator.

Arms Exports

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what licences have been granted for equipment on the military list to (a) Georgia, (b) Uzbekistan, (c) Kyrgyzstan, (d) Tajikistan, (e) Turkey, (f) Bahrain, (k) Oman, (l) Jordan and (m) Yemen in each month since September 2001, including military list and dual-use ratings; what equipment is covered under these licences; and if she will make a statement.

Nigel Griffiths: The number of Standard Individual Licences (SIELs) covering items on the military and dual-use lists issued to end users in Georgia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey, the Philippines, Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan and Yemen in each month since September 2001 is set out in the tables that I have placed in the Libraries of the House today. Individual licences might cover a range of items with various ratings. Where this is so, the licence is included in the tables in the total for all of the relevant ratings.
	The summary description of the items covered by these ratings will be published in the Government's Annual Reports on Strategic Export Controls, copies of which will be available in the Libraries of the House. In addition some of the countries are permitted destinations on certain Open General Export Licences, copies of which are also placed in the Libraries of the House. All relevant export licence applications are considered very carefully on a case-by-case basis against the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria, in the light of the circumstances prevailing at the time. The criteria include a specific reference to the behaviour of the buyer country with regard to the international community, as regards in particular to its attitude to terrorism, the nature of its alliances and respect for international law.

Arms Exports

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she is taking to improve the process for granting arms export licences.

Nigel Griffiths: The Government recognise that the system for processing export licence applications requires continuous improvement if we are to deliver a more efficient and effective export licensing system, which is both accountable and transparent.
	The Export Control Organisation (ECO) has introduced a number of initiatives to improve the risk assessment and to reduce the time taken to process individual export licence applications. These include the roll out of new enhanced IT systems that will allow exporters to submit applications for a Standard Individual Export Licence over the internet.

Arms Exports

Tony Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action she is taking about reports that UK arms dealers are offering prospective brokers means of circumventing licensing requirements; and if she will make a statement.

Nigel Griffiths: The Government and the UK enforcement authorities take very seriously reports of any breaches of UK export licensing requirements.
	I understand that the police and HM Customs and Excise are investigating the case which was recently reported.

Street Trading

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has received regarding the (a) reform and (b) repeal of the Pedlars Act 1871; and what plans she has to amend legislation relating to street trading.

Melanie Johnson: One representation has been received suggesting reform or repeal of the Pedlars Act 1871 from Chelmsford borough council. I have no plans to amend street trading legislation.

Director of Civil Nuclear Security

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will place the report of the Director of Civil Nuclear Security in the Library.

Brian Wilson: The report to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry by the Director of Civil Nuclear Security "The State of Security in the Civil Nuclear Industry and the Effectiveness of Security Regulation" will be placed in the Library of both Houses today. It is also being made available on the DTI website www.dti.gov.uk.

New Corporate Identities

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent work her Department has undertaken on new corporate identities; and if she will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: The independent review of company law set in hand by my Department considered the case for new corporate identities and recommended a new form of incorporation for charities. In addition, this Department's Social Enterprise Unit established a working group on issues surrounding social enterprises. The Government are carefully considering the final report of the company law review.

Internal Market, Consumer Tourism Council

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the outcome was of the Internal Market, Consumer and Tourism Council on 21 May; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if she will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: Council conclusions were agreed on the Community Patent stating that the Presidency package is the basis for further work but that nothing is finally agreed until there is agreement on the whole package and that further work is needed on jurisdiction in particular. There was political agreement on the Public Procurement Directive and on the European Co-operative Society Statute.
	Resolutions were agreed on the Future of European Tourism and supporting the Commission's approach to better regulation. There was political agreement on the substance of the Customs 2007 programme, to continue and enhance customs co-operation, although the UK and two other member states maintained reservations on the legal base.
	There was a policy debate on the draft sales promotion regulation and Commission briefings on consumers and the euro, the follow-up to the Green Paper on EU Consumer Protection, services of general economic interest and on the proposal for a consolidated directive on the mutual recognition of professional qualifications. The Commission presented its recently adopted Consumer Policy Strategy 2002–06 and there was a Presidency presentation on the fourth European Consumers' Day in Madrid. There was a short discussion on the 2002 Review of the Internal Market Strategy, the Single Market Scoreboard and the Joint Work Programme of the Three Presidencies and a Presidency briefing on the proposal for a regulation on Food Hygiene.
	Under Any Other Business the Commission urged member states to accept the European Parliament's broad endorsement of the Council's common position on the Distance Marketing of Financial Services Directive.
	The UK voted in favour of the two legislative items— the public procurement directive and the European Co-operative Society Statute. Conclusions were adopted on the Community Patent with the UK in favour. The Resolutions on Tourism and Better Regulation were agreed also with the UK in favour. The UK voted against political agreement on the Customs 2007 item, due to the proposed legal base.

Small Businesses

John Lyons: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further measures she is taking to address the impact of late payments of invoices on small businesses.

Nigel Griffiths: We are ensuring that from 7 August 2002:
	all businesses and public sector bodies can claim interest for late payment;
	creditors can claim a fixed sum of compensation to cover debt recovery costs if they have to chase up late payment;
	all businesses and public sector bodies can challenge contractual terms that do not provide a substantial remedy for late payment;
	SMEs are provided with the right to have appropriate organisations and a trade association act on their behalf and to challenge unfair contractual terms that try to remove or alter their right to statutory interest; and
	a simple reference rate will be created which will be set for six months and used to determine the late payment interest rate. (The late payment interest rate is the reference rate plus 8 per cent.) This will make it easier for firms to calculate the interest they may be owed.

Lakshmi Mittal

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the answer given by the Foreign Secretary on 21 May 2002, Official Report, column 255W, on meetings with embassy staff, what the commercial benefit to the United Kingdom was of the Lakshmi Mittal Romanian steel contract.

Patricia Hewitt: I refer the right hon. Member to the answers given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for East Carmarthen and Dinefwr (Adam Price) and the hon. Member for Isle of Wight (Mr. Turner) on 14 February 2002, Official Report, columns 610–12W.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

Child Care

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, when the most recent assessment was made of the (a) present and (b) future child care needs of people who work in the Palace of Westminster.

Archy Kirkwood: I refer the hon. Lady to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Don Valley (Caroline Flint) on 30 April 2002, Official Report, column 691W.

Catering and Cleaning Staff

Barry Sheerman: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, if all House of Commons catering and cleaning staff (a) are included in the House-wide annual performance appraisal process and (b) have personal development plans that are regularly reviewed and updated.

Archy Kirkwood: All the Departments of the House have achieved recognition as Investors in People; this process has involved ensuring that the appraisal systems are operating effectively, and that personal development is given due attention.
	Management and administrative staff of the Refreshment Department are included in the House-wide annual performance review process, and the department operates two separate appraisal schemes developed to meet the specific needs of its catering staff. All catering staff have personal development plans which are reviewed and updated regularly. In addition, the department last year became an approved centre with the Hospitality Awarding Body to register and certificate its own National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs). So far, three staff of the Department have been trained as NVQ Internal Verifiers and a further 12 staff are qualified NVQ Assessors. Last year over 50 staff of the Refreshment Department achieved nationally recognised trainer qualifications.
	All House cleaning staff are included in the House-wide annual performance appraisal process. They have annual personal objectives, which are agreed with line managers and are regularly reviewed. Their training and development needs are identified and updated through that process.

PRIVY COUNCIL

Programme Motions

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the President of the Council what recent representations he has received about the working of programme motions on legislation.

Robin Cook: The hon. Member himself has made representations as have some other hon. Members. The Modernisation Committee will report on programming before the end of the Session.

House of Lords Reform

David Taylor: To ask the President of the Council what representations he has received from campaigning organisations following his statement on 13 May to the House on Lords reform.

Robin Cook: We have received one communication from Charter 88 about the setting up of the Joint Committee which the two Houses are in the process of establishing. I would expect any representations about the substance of reform now to be made to the Joint Committee.

Parliamentary Proceedings (Access)

Julie Morgan: To ask the President of the Council what proposals he plans to put to the Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons relating to making proceedings in the House more accessible to visually disabled people.

Ben Bradshaw: The Select Committee on Modernisation of the House of Commons has a full programme, but I am sure my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House will be interested in proposals from any hon. Members. The House of Commons Commission may also have an interest.

Parliamentary Terminology

Chris Bryant: To ask the President of the Council if he will bring forward proposals to reform the use of parliamentary terminology in the business of the House.

Ben Bradshaw: My right hon. Friend has no such plans at present.

Disqualification

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the President of the Council if he will introduce legislation providing for parity of treatment between Members of both Houses in relation to disqualification following imprisonment consequent upon criminal conviction.

Ben Bradshaw: In their proposals on House of Lords reform, the Government consulted on possible changes to the rules which would enable those members of the House of Lords who had been sentenced to particular terms of imprisonment to be expelled from the House. House of Lords reform will now be looked at by a Joint Committee of both Houses of Parliament. It would be premature for the Government to introduce any measures in advance of that Joint Committee reporting.

People's Peers

Gordon Prentice: To ask the President of the Council when the House of Lords Appointments Commission is to embark on its proposed road shows to encourage applications from putative people's peers.

Ben Bradshaw: I understand that the Commission has yet to finalise plans for its forthcoming programme of regional visits.

Legislation

Graham Allen: To ask the President of the Council if he will ensure that each new Bill undergoes pre- legislative scrutiny similar to that of the Communications Bill.

Robin Cook: As I made clear to my hon. Friend in answer to his question of 23 May 2002, Official Report, column 395, it is our intention that pre-legislative scrutiny should become the norm for Government legislation. However, capacity constraints, including the number of the Parliamentary draftsmen, mean that it may take some years to achieve this. The appropriate form of scrutiny will vary from Bill to Bill. Many draft Bills will fall naturally to pre-existing Select Committees, some may be scrutinised by Joint Committees and others by ad hoc Committees of either House. The detailed method of scrutiny is a matter for the Committee examining a particular Bill.
	The Government nevertheless welcome the use of electronic forms of communication to involve the public in such scrutiny.

Travel

Graham Allen: To ask the President of the Council if he will ask the Commission to amend the rules concerning spouse warrants to enable hon. Members' families to travel more often.

Robin Cook: This is not a matter for the Commission. I am not aware of great demand for an increase in the present number of 15 return journeys for spouses and each child, but this would be an issue the Speaker's Advisory Panel could consider if there are substantial concerns.

DEFENCE

Armed Forces Pension Scheme

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 12 February 2002, Official Report, column 178W, on the armed forces pension scheme, when he will write to the hon. Member.

Lewis Moonie: I wrote to the hon. Member on 6 June and a copy of my letter has been placed in the Library of the House.

Armed Forces Pension Scheme

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the agencies that have been responsible for the administration of armed forces pensions since 1972.

Lewis Moonie: Until 1997, when the Armed Forces and Administration Agency (AFPAA) was formed as a partnership between Ministry of Defence and Electronic Data Services (EDS), administration for the armed forces pension scheme was undertaken in-house by the three single services. From 1997, AFPAA has undertaken the administration, ie the calculation and award, of pensions on behalf of Navy and RAF personnel, with administration for the Army remaining with that service until 1 October 2001, when it too became part of AFPAA.
	The actual payment of pensions to retired forces personnel has since been made on MOD's behalf in respect of Navy and RAF personnel and Army officers, by the 1830s Paymaster (formerly Paymaster General). Payments of pensions for other ranks in the Army were retained in house until 1 October 2001, when these payments were also transferred to Paymaster.

NATO

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the agenda is of the meeting of NATO Heads of State and Government in Prague from 18 to 24 November; and what the United Kingdom's objectives are for the meeting.

Geoff Hoon: The NATO summit will take place in Prague on 21–22 November. There is no formal agenda as yet, although we expect that capabilities, enlargement, the new relationship with Russia, NATO's adaptation to the changed strategic setting, strengthening of the NATO-EU relationship and partnership will be discussed. The United Kingdom's principal objective at Prague will be to ensure the continued effectiveness and relevance of an enlarged Alliance in the face of new challenges.

Nuclear Deterrents

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people working in the armed forces are directly employed in the area of nuclear deterrent.

Lewis Moonie: There are currently some 1,509 full-time armed forces posts in the Ministry of Defence and its agencies for tasks directly related to the nuclear deterrent, though not all posts are filled at any given time. In addition, a number of other service personnel spend some of their time directly or indirectly on such tasks but comprehensive data are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Nuclear Deterrents

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the cost (a) of retaining the nuclear deterrent by the UK in each year since 1990 and (b) of being a part of NATO and the percentage this was of the defence budget in each year since 1997.

Geoff Hoon: The estimated total acquisition cost of the Trident programme is £9,764 million. As described in the Strategic Defence Review Supporting Essay 5 of July 1998, a copy of which is in the Library of the House, the average annual operating cost of the Trident force is expected to be around £280 million. As a percentage of the defence budget, the capital and running costs for retaining the United Kingdom's nuclear deterrent for each year since 1990 were as follows:
	
		
			 Financial year Capital costs Running costs 
		
		
			 1990–91 4 1 
			 1991–92 5 1 
			 1992–93 4 1 
			 1993–94 4 1 
			 1994–95 3 1 
			 1995–96 2 1 
			 1996–97 2 1 
			 1997–98 1 1 
			 1998–99 1 1 
			 1999–2000 1 1 
			 2000–01 1 2 
		
	
	These figures do not include the costs of the WE177 free-fall nuclear bomb and Lance nuclear artillery system that went out of service in 1997–98 and 1992–1993 respectively.
	The United Kingdom's contributions to NATO's Security Investment Programme and Military Budget are funded by the Defence budget. For each year since 1997, these were as follows:
	
		
			 Financial year £ million Percentage 
		
		
			 1997–98 102.032 0.459 
			 1998–99 110.477 0.471 
			 1999–2000 103.812 0.436 
			 2000–01 101.411 0.408 
		
	
	Final figures for 2001–02 are not yet available.

Public Consultation

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the public consultations undertaken by his Department since June 2001, stating in each case the (a) number of respondents and (b) percentage of those specifically consulted who responded.

Lewis Moonie: holding answer 10 June 2002
	Since June 2001 the Ministry of Defence has completed or undertaken the following public consultations:
	Armed Forces Pension Scheme Review
	Joint Compensation Review
	2nd Consultation on the Introduction of a Voluntary Screening Programme for Depleted Uranium
	MOD Police Quinquennial Review.
	The MOD also issued a public discussion document on the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) New Chapter during this period.
	1,500 Armed Forces Pension Scheme (AFPS) Review and Joint Compensation Review (JCR) consultation documents were issued in March 2001 with a closing date of 31 July 2001 for responses. These were issued to all units of the three services and also sent to ex-service organisations such as the Forces Pension Society, Widows Associations and the Royal British Legion. 20,000 leaflets were also distributed to serving members of the armed forces and the consultation documents were issued on the MOD website. 203 responses were received in total, with some respondents commenting on both the AFPS and JCR. Responses were received from all the principal ex-service organisations specifically consulted.
	The 2nd consultation on the Introduction of a Voluntary Screening Programme for Depleted Uranium was issued in April 2001 with a closing date of 4 July 2001 for responses. A total of 21 responses were received by the Department and a full summary of the responses received is available on the MOD website.
	I am unable to provide the requested information for the MOD Police Quinquennial Review in the time available. I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
	In addition, the SDR New Chapter public discussion document has attracted a wide range of constructive responses, some 315 to date. The closing date for responses was 15 March 2002 and all have been given full consideration in the continuing SDR New Chapter work.

Nuclear Test Veterans

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on compensation for the families of nuclear test veterans.

Lewis Moonie: The Ministry of Defence has every confidence in the independent studies carried out by the National Radiological Protection Board and the Imperial Cancer Research Fund that showed veterans' participation in the nuclear test programme has not had a detectable effect on their expectation of life, or on their risk of developing cancer or other fatal diseases. Consequently grounds do not exist for compensation to be paid to British nuclear test veterans or their surviving spouses and families. There are no plans to review this position.

Military Threat

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the potential threat from (a) Iraq, (b) Iran, (c) Syria, (d) Libya and (e) North Korea.

Geoff Hoon: We assess that there is no immediate threat of military attack by Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya or North Korea to the United Kingdom mainland, although Iraq threatens RAF aircraft patrolling the Iraqi No-Fly Zones daily.
	An assessment of the ballistic missile and weapons of mass destruction programmes of a number of countries was included in a "Supplementary Memorandum to the House of Commons Defence Committee: The Ballistic Missile Threat" of 18 March 2002 and, with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, a "Joint Memorandum to the House of Commons Defence Committee: Missile Defence" of 11 February 2002.
	We continue to monitor developments closely, particularly as they might affect deployed forces.

Armed Forces (Minority Representation)

Nick Palmer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what future targets have been set to achieve higher ethnic minority representation in the armed forces; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The armed forces are seeking an approach that recognises and values diversity, without in any way compromising their commitment to comply with equality legislation and eradicate any form of harassment, intimidation or unlawful discrimination. The new diversity policy has been embodied in a revised Armed Forces Personnel Strategy Guideline, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House; this sets out the armed forces' diversity goal, and the principles which underpin it, and seeks to define diversity in a military context, demonstrating its importance for the achievement of operational effectiveness while recognising the unique circumstances of the armed forces.
	The armed forces are determined to become more representative of the ethnically diverse society they serve. Targets remain an important means of achieving this. For the future, I have agreed that this year's target should be for each service to increase recruitment of ethnic minorities by a further 1 per cent. of all recruits, subject to an overall target of 6 per cent. This marks the continuation of the major drive by the armed forces over the past four years to attain a proper share of talent available in the ethnic communities. Future goals for ethnic minority representation and recruitment will be set in the coming year, taking account of the results of the ethnic origin resurvey of armed forces personnel currently under way, ethnic minority recruiting achievement and evidence on ethnic minority numbers likely to emerge from the 2001 national census.

War Widows Pilgrimage Scheme

Nick Palmer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received to extend the War Widows Pilgrimage Scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: Following a recent approach by the Royal British Legion, I have agreed to an extension of the War Widows Pilgrimage Scheme for a further two years, until 31 March 2005. The Government greatly appreciate the excellent work of the Royal British Legion who administer this subsidised scheme on our behalf. To date the scheme has enabled more than 4,000 widows to visit their husband's grave in many parts of the world.

Porton Down

Nick Palmer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for epidemiological research on Porton Down volunteers; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The Ministry of Defence has accepted a recommendation by the Medical Research Council (MRC) to fund research to be undertaken by Dr. Kate Venables of Oxford University and colleagues from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and from Imperial College, London. This research will consist of a one-year pilot study to assess the incidence of mortality and cancer among a selected group of 500 Porton Down volunteers compared with a control group of 500 other members of the armed forces and a small scale questionnaire study to evaluate volunteers' own views of their health status.
	The pilot study will commence later this month and will take about a year to complete. The MRC will be in a position towards the end of the pilot study to advise MOD whether the available historical data are of sufficient quality and quantity to allow a full scale epidemiological study to proceed.

BioReliance

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contact was made between his Department and BioReliance after the visit of his Department's officials in late 2001.

Mike O'Brien: I have been asked to reply.
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary to the hon. Member for North Essex (Mr. Jenkin) on 23 May 2002, Official Report, column 478W.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Paddington Rail Crash

Theresa May: To ask the Solicitor-General on what basis the CPS decided that the investigation of the case of corporate manslaughter arising from the Paddington rail crash should be re-opened.

Harriet Harman: The CPS has advised the police to undertake limited inquiries to determine whether or not there is an impediment in linking the management of the signal sighting around Ladbroke Grove, in particular Signal SN109, with the actual circumstances of the Ladbroke Grove collision. This was on the basis of having considered further legal advice.

Paddington Rail Crash

Theresa May: To ask the Solicitor-General when the CPS (a) decided and (b) informed the British transport police that the investigation of a corporate manslaughter charge in relation to the Paddington rail crash should be re-opened.

Harriet Harman: The CPS considered the advice that it would offer to the British transport police over a number of weeks, and kept the British transport police informed of its developing thinking. A decision was made recently and formal notification of its advice was made by the CPS to the British transport police on 21 May. Letters to interested parties, including victims' relatives, were dispatched that day. If any further evidence is obtained that will, of course, be considered by the CPS. The HSE has in any event announced its intention to issue proceedings against Railtrack and Thames Trains for offences contrary to sections 2 and 3 of the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974.

Freedom of Information

Harry Cohen: To ask the Solicitor-General what plans she has to propose changes to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to align its provisions with the Council of Europe Recommendation on Freedom of Information; and if she will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: I have been asked to reply.
	None. I am advised that the Freedom of Information Act 2000 is fully consistent with the Council of Europe Recommendation on access to official documents (Rec. (2002)2).

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Hockey

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what estimate she has made of (a) the number of people who play hockey, (b) the number of children and young people who play hockey and (c) the trend in levels of participation in hockey;
	(2)  if she will make a statement on the effect of the financial situation of English Hockey on the organisation and promotion of hockey among young people;
	(3)  if she will make a statement on the state of hockey in England;
	(4)  what steps she is taking to promote and develop hockey among young people in the inner cities.

Richard Caborn: holding answer 21 May 2002
	The Government Plan for Sport sets out a framework and range of policies aimed at increasing participation in all sports particularly among young people with an emphasis on the part that sport can play in tackling a range of objectives including social exclusion, crime reduction and better health. The implementation of programmes to promote and develop particular sports is a matter for the relevant governing bodies.
	Following a Special General Meeting on 4 May 2002, the English Hockey Association is currently being restructured into a new organisation to be called "Hockey England Ltd.". I am assured that, despite this restructuring, the new governing body intends to continue actively to promote the sport at all levels in the future. Its main funding comes from annual subscriptions paid by member clubs, of which there are approximately 1,650 representing some 165,000 active club members playing in some 4,300 teams. In addition, elite English hockey players and the governing body's grass roots activities will continue to receive support and funding from Sport England. When the restructuring has been completed the new governing body expects to be a strong, financially solid organisation providing for hockey requirements at all levels in England. It believes that the game will continue to be played by people of all ages and both sexes with a high proportion of participants from ethnic minorities.
	The governing body has a network of regional development managers across England in the north, south, east, west and midlands. Each of these managers has a specific brief to aid and assist the development of hockey in the regions, with specific emphasis on youth and in the inner cities in particular.
	The General Household survey carried out in 1996, the latest year for which this survey collected figures for sports participation, indicated that in England 118,000 adults had played hockey at least once in the previous four weeks. Sport England's Young People in Sport Survey carried out in 1999 indicated that 409,300 young people aged six to 16 participated in hockey out of school lessons at least 10 times in the previous 12 months, while in school lessons 1,200,000 young people participated at least 10 times in the last 12 months. The governing body's view is that the numbers involved in men's, women's and mixed hockey will remain constant and that participation by juniors is likely to rise due largely to the increasing use of artificial pitches.

Culture and Audiovisual Council

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the outcome was of the Culture and Audiovisual Council held in Brussels on 23 May; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including their voting record; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The culture and audiovisual Council held in Brussels on 23 May discussed future EU cultural co-operation, the preservation of digital content for future generations and proposals to revise the Directive on "Television Without Frontiers". A lunchtime discussion addressed the role of private sector cultural sponsorship.
	Resolutions were agreed by unanimity on a work plan for future EU cultural co-operation and on the importance of ensuring that digital content is preserved so as to be accessible by future generations.
	Discussions on the future of the current framework programme for cultural co-operation—Culture 2000—were of a preliminary nature only and there was no vote. The UK view was that the existing programme should be extended in order to allow sufficient time to review its impact to date and to discuss its successor. The Commission has agreed to produce a report on the existing scheme by the end of 2002 and will also put forward a number of proposals for further discussion.
	All delegations agreed that the review of the "Television Without Frontiers" Directive should be preceded by detailed debate and reflection and the Commission agreed to produce a work programme by the end of 2002. There was no formal vote. The priority for the UK will be to ensure that discussions on the review of the Directive take into account the provisions outlined in the draft communications Bill, published by my Department earlier this month.
	The lunchtime discussion reiterated the importance of private sector cultural sponsorship and it was agreed that Member States should discuss ways of sharing experiences and agreeing best practice. This was an informal discussion and there was no vote. The UK fully supported the outcome of the debate.

European Football Championships 2008

John Lyons: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assistance is being given to support the bid of Scotland and Ireland to stage the 2008 European Football Championships.

Kim Howells: The Government consider the Scotland and Ireland bid to be a strong one, and will give their full support. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State met the Scottish Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport on 18 March to discuss how DCMS may best support the bid team's efforts. To date, central Government support has centred on the provision of the formal guarantees required by UEFA. As well as a statement of UK Government support for the bid, these included commitments from the Department for Work and Pensions, the Home Office, HM Customs and Excise and other Departments, covering issues of work permits, immigration control and value added tax.

Television Licence

John Lyons: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the cost would be of removing the requirement for a TV licence for people between 70 and 75 years.

Kim Howells: In 2001–02 total expenditure on free TV licences for people aged 75 and over was £369.57 million. If everyone aged 70 and over had been eligible for a free TV licence in 2001–02, the additional cost would have been £182 million.

Sport England

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of the sum given in each of the last three years to Sport England was allocated to model aircraft flying.

Kim Howells: holding answer 10 June 2002
	None of Sport England's Exchequer income has been given to model aircraft flying in any of the last three years. The lottery funds awarded were as follows:
	
		Lottery funding
		
			  Year  £ Percentage of total lottery income 
		
		
			 1999–2000 0 0 
			 2000–01 2,850 0.00127 
			 2001–02 4,683 0.00160

Green Spaces and Sustainable Communities Programme

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much money has been granted under the Green Spaces and Sustainable Communities Programme, broken down by region.

Kim Howells: holding answer 10 June 2002
	The total amount of funding committed to date in the United Kingdom under the New Opportunities Fund's Green Spaces and Sustainable Communities programme is £25,379,355. This comprises £17,432,146 in England, £6,058,366 in Scotland, £1,426,271 in Wales and £462,572 in Northern Ireland. The table breaks down funding in England by region, where such a breakdown is possible.
	
		
			 Region Funding (£) Number of projects 
		
		
			 Eastern 1,041,989 32 
			 East Midlands 1,061,908 49 
			 London 1,687,502 58 
			 North East 2,415,197 71 
			 North West 3,112,983 100 
			 South West 2,416,668 70 
			 West Midlands 2,609,675 53 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 1,916,851 66 
			 South East 1,114,525 56

Tourism (England)

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on her proposals for the marketing of tourism in England.

Kim Howells: holding answer 10 June 2002
	Proposals for the modernisation and reform of tourism were announced on 13 May and further details will be announced later in the summer.

Tourism (England)

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which (a) individuals and (b) companies or organisations her Department consulted on the proposals for the marketing of tourism in England.

Kim Howells: holding answer 10 June 2002
	Since the difficult events of 2001, we have consulted a wide variety of individuals and organisations about the future arrangements for domestic marketing. Our emerging proposals have been discussed with key industry stakeholders at the Tourism Forum, organised by the English Tourism Council, and at a special seminar chaired by the Secretary of State at Hartwell House. We have also worked closely with the Tourism Alliance and many national and regional tourism bodies.

Arts Development

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she will respond to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee's third report on arts development.

Tessa Jowell: The Government's response to the report was laid before Parliament earlier today.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Departmental Staff (Scotland)

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many and what percentage of (a) Civil Service, (b) executive agencies and (c) non-departmental public body jobs under the remit of his Department are located in Scotland; and how many of each have been relocated to Scotland since May 1997.

Mike O'Brien: No civil service or executive agency jobs under the remit of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are located in Scotland.
	For non-departmental public bodies, 34 jobs (3.11 per cent.) are located in Scotland. All these were located in Scotland prior to 1997. A further 20 British Council slots will be relocated to Edinburgh between now and summer 2003.

Disclosure of Interests

Paul Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what rules apply to the disclosure of interests on the part of those serving on public bodies which are responsible to his Department.

Jack Straw: All advisory and executive non-departmental public bodies (NDPB) are required to adopt a board members' code, based on guidance produced by the Cabinet Office, and they should have registers of interests. The definition of interests is ultimately for individual Departments since they are best placed to decide what might be thought to influence members of their NDPBs.
	The following table lists the NDPBs sponsored by this Department and in each cases indicates what the relevant code of practice is and where it is available.
	
		
			 Non-departmental public body Present status Information available 
		
		
			 British Council Code of best practice for board members adopted on 1 November 1994 Available on request from the secretariat of the British Council 
			 Wilton Park Academic Council Draft code of practice to be adopted on 13 June 2002. WPAC also hold 'conflict of interests' register Once approved, will be on WPAC website www.wiltonpark.org.uk/ 
			 British Association for Central and Eastern Europe Does not have a register of interest, though compliant with Companies Act requirement for board members to declare any other company directorships — 
			 Great Britain China Centre Has a register of executive committee members' interests relevant to its activities May be obtained by contacting GBCC in writing. Details also given on website (www.gbcc.org.uk) 
			 Britain Russia Centre No code of practice in respect of its disclosure of interest currently in place Board members sign an annual declaration provided by the auditors that they have had no personal gain or financial interest from/in BRC activities. Website: www.briteastwest.org.uk/ 
			 Diplomatic Service Appeals Board Code of practice currently being drafted. Register of interests covered in application forms Information can be obtained from Secretary, DSAB, FCO, London SW1A 2PA 
			 Westminster Foundation for Democracy Code of practice under review. Do hold a register of interests. WFD also has code of conduct for board members which includes the obligation to declare any material interests Held by company secretary. Website www.wfd.org/ 
			 Government Hospitality Advisory Committee for the Purchase of Wine Code of practice adopted Published in annual report. Information can be obtained from the Head of Government Hospitality, Lancaster House, St. James's, London SW1 
			 Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission Code of practice adopted by commission on 25 April 1997 Documents available from commission secretariat at Association of Commonwealth Universities (not on website but details in ACU annual report)

Libya (Flight LAA 1103)

Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the outcome was of meetings held in the last six months between his staff at the Tripoli Embassy and the Libyan authorities on the subject of a crash report into flight LAA 1103.

Mike O'Brien: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given him by my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Mr. Bradshaw), then Parliamentary Under- Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, on 23 May 2002, Official Report, column 533W.

Pakistan

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations the Government have made to the Government of Pakistan on the protection of women's rights.

Mike O'Brien: We and our EU partners regularly raise our human rights concerns, including women's rights issues, with the Pakistan authorities. The Government of Pakistan have made progress over the last year in addressing the position of women through electoral reform and their National Commission on the Status of Women. We support these steps and are supporting Pakistani women's groups in their campaigns to promote women's rights within the existing Islamic legal framework.
	The EU Human Rights Group takes a close interest in human rights development in Pakistan. The Group is currently considering what further action they should take.

Zimbabwe

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information was provided by the French authorities to his Department concerning the visit of Zimbabwean Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri to that country recently.

Jack Straw: As they were obliged to, under the terms of the EU travel ban, the French authorities provided full relevant information prior to Chihuri's recent attendance at the 14–16 May Interpol meeting in Lyon.

Zimbabwe

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the meetings of international organisations which the Zimbabweans who are listed on the UK/EU travel ban list are allowed to attend.

Jack Straw: There is no defined list. The terms of the Common Position imposing the travel ban allow Member States to grant exemptions on the grounds of
	"humanitarian need, including religious obligation, or on the grounds attending meetings of international bodies or conducting political dialogue that promote democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Zimbabwe".
	In practice, EU Member States examine visa applications from banned Zimbabweans on a case-by-case basis and consult other partners before reaching a final decision.

Zimbabwe

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date his Department was contacted by the French authorities concerning the visit of the Zimbabwean Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri; and what response his Department gave to the French.

Jack Straw: We understand that Chihuri entered France on a single-entry 10-day visa on 11 May and returned to Zimbabwe on 20 May.
	The French authorities alerted EU partners to Chihuri's application for a visa on 27 March. They explained that they were obliged under Article 15 of the Interpol Accord to allow Chihuri, a Vice-President representing Africa on Interpol's Executive Committee, to attend the organisation's 14–16 May meeting. The French authorities noted that the exemptions allowed under the EU travel ban include permission for banned individuals to attend international meetings of this kind.
	My Department accepted the legal basis of the French request, but asked the French authorities to attach maximum restrictive conditions to Chihuri's entry visa and, where possible, to restrict his movements on EU soil to the immediate vicinity of the Interpol meeting.

Zimbabwe

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has received from European Government representatives since 11 March concerning Zimbabwean Ministers attending meetings in Europe, while they are on the EU sanctions list.

Jack Straw: The terms of the EU travel ban allow banned individuals to attend meetings of international organisations based in Europe which are subject to established treaty arrangements. These may effectively require a host country to allow access irrespective of any ban.
	France informed EU partners on 27 March that Augustine Chihuri had applied to attend an Interpol meeting in Lyon from 14 to 16 May, and again on 23 May that he had applied to attend another meeting from 18 to 20 June. France noted its obligation under the Interpol Accord to allow national representatives to attend meetings at the headquarters of this international organisation. France issued him a restrictive, single entry 10-day visa for the May meetings, and a five-day visa for the June meeting. Spain has reported an application from Chihuri to enter Spain following the June meeting. This application has been refused.
	France also reported a request from Zimbabwean officials on behalf of Robert Mugabe, Elliot Manyika, Elisha Muzonzini and Stanislaus Mudenge for permission to enter France while transitting Paris airport en route from New York on the weekend of 11 May. The request was turned down. Germany informed partners on 27 May that Stanislaus Mudenge had applied to enter Germany on private business. The application was turned down.
	Italy alerted partners on 29 May and 5 June to requests from Robert Mugabe, Stanislaus Mudenge, Elliot Manyika, George Charamba and Joseph Made for permission to attend the UN Food Summit in Rome from 10 to 13 June. Italy noted its obligation to allow these individuals entry to attend this UN summit. They are likely to be given a five-day single entry visa.

Zimbabwe

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how long the Zimbabwean Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri was in the European Union.

Jack Straw: We understand that Chihuri entered France on a single-entry 10-day visa on 11 May and returned to Zimbabwe on 20 May.

Falkland Islands

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has recently discussed with the Argentine Government a change in sovereign status of the Falkland Islands.

Jack Straw: The British Government have no doubt about their sovereignty over the Falkland Islands and have held no recent meetings with Argentina about the future status of the Islands.

United Kingdom Overseas Territories

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the constitutional position of (a) the Falkland Islands and (b) Gibraltar.

Jack Straw: The constitutional position of the Falkland Islands is expressed in the preamble to Chapter 1 of the 1985 Falkland Islands Constitution Order. In the case of Gibraltar this is expressed in the preamble to the 1969 Gibraltar Constitution Order. The constitutional positions of Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands are bound by the legal frameworks in which they are set, and in this respect they are quite distinct.

Jonathan Lincoln Brown

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations his Department has made to the Government of Oman about a constituent, Jonathan Lincoln Brown; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: Mr. Brown is involved in a private legal dispute. We have assisted him where we properly can in a number of matters. These included representations to the Omani Government requesting them to consider Mr. Brown's case compassionately because of his mother's ill health and subsequent death. Our ambassador raised the case with the Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The embassy were also instrumental in ensuring Mr. Brown received an appeal date. We remain in contact with Mr. Brown and are providing all proper consular assistance.

Afghanistan

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date his Department received reports and representations from the International Committee of the Red Cross regarding the conditions of fighters held in Shibergan prison in Afghanistan; and what action his Department has taken.

Mike O'Brien: I understand that this Department did not receive any representations from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) regarding the conditions of fighters held in Shiberghan prison in Afghanistan.
	Our Embassy staff in Kabul are in frequent contact with the ICRC, which monitors closely the situation and welfare of all prisoners in Afghanistan. The ICRC is concerned about conditions in the camp. A number of prisoners have been released since February, but the prison continues to hold some 1,600 men (it was designed to hold 1,000). The ICRC began a feeding programme for prisoners in mid-April.
	Throughout the conflict last autumn, we urged the Northern Alliance to respect international human rights laws, including the Geneva Conventions, and to treat humanely all those who surrendered and were taken prisoner. Since then, we have made clear to the Afghan Interim Administration that we expect them to respect their international obligations, including to treat their prisoners humanely.
	The former Foreign Office Minister with responsibility for South Asia, my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter, raised our concerns most recently on 27 May, when he discussed the reported mistreatment of prisoners with the Afghan Foreign Minister, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah. The US$4.5 billion pledged by the international community for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Afghanistan over the next five years should help to improve conditions across the country, including in prisons. The Afghan Interim Administration has asked General Dostum, the regional commander with responsibility for the camp, to ensure that conditions at Shiberghan are improved swiftly.

Kaliningrad

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on co-operation between Kaliningrad and the European Union.

Mike O'Brien: The Government recognise that Kaliningrad is a significant issue in the EU-Russia relationship.
	The EU recognises also the impact that enlargement will have on Kaliningrad. Due to concerns over illegal migration, the EU has made clear that visa-free transit will no longer be possible between Kaliningrad and the rest of Russia after Poland and Lithuania have joined the European Union.
	The Union has therefore developed a package of assistance: to facilitate the issuing of visas; to promote workable border arrangements; and to support Kaliningrad's economic development. This assistance is intended to help Kaliningrad benefit from the opportunities offered by EU enlargement. Implementation of this package will depend on overall agreement between the EU and Russia. The issue was discussed at the EU-Russia summit on 29 May. Expert level contacts between the two sides will continue.

Angola

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department has taken since 5 April to help the implementation of the ceasefire agreement between the Government of Angola and the UNITA rebels; what reports he has received from his staff in the area about possible problems; what representations he has made to the Government of Angola with respect to creating a lasting peace; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: We are in close contact with the Angolan Government, from President dos Santos down. We discussed the latest developments with Foreign Minister Miranda in London in March. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development held follow-up discussions in Luanda in April. We are also in touch with Ibrahim Gambari, the UN Secretary General's Special Adviser on Africa (including talks on 6 June), and with our EU colleagues, with the aim of encouraging transparent dialogue between all parties.
	There have been reports that quartering areas are over-stretched and unable to meet the basic welfare needs of former UNITA troops and their families. We have played a leading role with other donors to encourage the UN and Government of Angola to overcome earlier co-ordination problems and to agree roles and responsibilities in the quartering areas. The UN has now begun work on implementing relief activity, within guidelines agreed with the Angolan government. Her Majesty's Government are contributing $1 million to the UN's office for the co-ordination of humanitarian affairs (OCHA) in Angola. It is important that the Angolan Government fulfils its own stated obligations and that it continues to co-operate fully with the international community, particularly on the humanitarian relief agenda.

European Council (Seville)

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's priorities are for the European Council's meeting at Seville; by what standards he will judge the success of the meeting; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: We want Seville to give fresh impetus to the EU's work to combat illegal immigration, by strengthening the EU's borders, enhancing our work with source countries in tackling the causes and consequences of illegal migration, and focusing the EU's policies and resources more sharply. We also want Seville to agree a package of reforms to the workings of the Council, to improve its efficiency and make it more transparent to the citizen. In addition, Heads of State and Government will discuss enlargement, in particular how to communicate its benefits more effectively to public opinion; other aspects of the future of Europe debate; sustainable development; a range of economic and social topics to continue to deliver the Lisbon agenda; and a number of CFSP issues.

European Council (Seville)

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals the Government will be putting forward on the reform of the European Union's rotating presidency to the European Council's meeting at Seville; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: The Government would like agreement at the Seville European Council on practical steps to improve the way the Council works. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister set out some concrete ideas in his joint letter to Prime Minster Aznar with Chancellor Schroder in February. Seville, however, cannot agree changes to the rotating presidency system: such changes would require amendments to the Union's treaties; these can only be agreed at an Intergovernmental Conference (expected to take place in 2004).

European Council (Seville)

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's aims are for the promotion of environmental strategies in the European Union's external responsibilities at the European Council's meeting at Seville; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: The Government want the European Council in Seville to elaborate the external dimension of the EU's sustainable development strategy. This strategy aims to strike a balance between the environmental, economic and social objectives of society, in order to maximise well-being in the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. We want the EU to agree a set of priority objectives, with related targets and actions. These should include improving coherence between its internal and external policies and addressing developing country concerns such as market access. A commitment at Seville will demonstrate the EU's engagement with the global agenda for sustainable development, poverty eradication and achieving the UN's Millennium Development Goals.
	The European Council is also the opportunity for the EU to make a clear statement on sustainable development and to prepare for the forthcoming World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg later this year. We favour decisions by the Council on the EU's top priorities for political agreement at Johannesburg, such as initiatives on freshwater and sanitation, and sustainable energy.

Press and Public Relations

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much expenditure his Department has incurred in 1997–98 on employing external consultants to deal with the press or public relations of his Department.

Denis MacShane: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) on 24 January 2002, Official Report, column 999W.
	That answer covered the period 1998–2002. In 1997–98, the British Council paid £23,500 to a consultancy which looked at the British Council brand development and identity.

Tibet

John MacDougall: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times in the last three years he has met his Chinese counterpart to discuss Tibet.

Denis MacShane: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has met his Chinese counterpart, Tang Jiaxuan, several times in the last three years to discuss issues of international and bilateral concern. He has raised our concerns over Tibet twice, most recently in January this year.

Uzbekistan

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK observers were (a) sent by his Department and (b) part of international missions to Uzbekistan on 5 December 1999; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: Neither the Foreign and Commonwealth Office nor the OSCE sent observers to Uzbekistan for the parliamentary elections on 5 December 1999. No other international missions were deployed.

Uzbekistan

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK observers were present in Uzbekistan on 27 January; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The UK did not send official observers to the national referendum, which took place in Uzbekistan on 27 January 2002. However, the Government of Uzbekistan invited two UK nationals in a private capacity.

Uzbekistan

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports have been received by his Department on human rights in Uzbekistan since April 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) receives regular reporting on human rights in Uzbekistan from our embassy in Tashkent. The embassy closely monitors the human rights situation in the country and is in regular contact with the leaders of independent human rights organisations and international NGOs based there. The FCO also receives information direct from human rights organisations. For example, in January, Human Rights Watch wrote to the Department outlining concerns about human rights in Uzbekistan. In the same month, the UK ensured that issues highlighted by Human Rights Watch were raised at the EU- Uzbekistan Cooperation Council.

Uzbekistan

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when representations have been made by (a) his Department and (b) UK diplomatic staff in Tashkent to the Government of Uzbekistan concerning human rights since April 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) frequently raises human rights concerns with the Ambassador of Uzbekistan in London. It also contributes to EU statements and raises human rights issues and individual cases together with EU partners at the OSCE.
	In Tashkent, the embassy monitors the human rights situation and maintains a close dialogue with human rights groups. General human rights concerns and individual cases are raised by senior FCO officials visiting Uzbekistan and by the British Ambassador. The embassy also makes representations with EU colleagues.
	UK diplomatic staff regularly remind Uzbekistan of its international obligations under the OSCE charter and the EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, as well as under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which Uzbekistan signed in 1995.
	The UK has carried out, with the cooperation of the Uzbekistan authorities, a number of projects to improve human rights, including most recently a project to install electronic recording equipment in courtrooms.

Uzbekistan

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK observers were present at the presidential elections in Uzbekistan on 9 January 2000; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The UK did not send official observers to the presidential elections which took place in Uzbekistan on 9 January 2000.

UN Conventions (Terrorism)

John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the (a) 12 UN conventions related to terrorism and (b) countries that have both signed and ratified all 12 conventions.

Mike O'Brien: The twelve UN conventions related to terrorism are:
	Convention and Certain Other Offences Committed on Board Aircraft (Tokyo 14/06/63)
	Convention for the Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft (The Hague 16/12/70)
	Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Aircraft (Montreal 23/09/71)
	Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes Against Internationally Protected Persons, Including Diplomatic Personnel (New York 14/12/73)
	Convention Against the Taking of Hostages (New York 17/12/79)
	Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials (Vienna 03/03/80)
	Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts of Violence at Airports Serving International Aviation, complementary to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Aircraft (Montreal 24/02/88)
	Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Maritime Navigation (Rome 10/03/88)
	Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Fixed Platforms on the Continental Shelf (Rome 10/03/88)
	Convention on the Marking of Plastic Explosives for the Purpose of Detection (Montreal 01/03/91)
	UN Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings (New York 15/12/97)
	UN Convention for the Suppression of Financing of Terrorism (New York 09/12/99).
	The states which have signed and acceded to all 12 Conventions and Protocols are: Canada, Chile, the Netherlands, Peru, the United Kingdom and Uzbekistan.
	We have placed in the House Library details of the status of state's accession to each UN Convention or Protocol.

European Union Business

Kali Mountford: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the (a) forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for June and (b) major European Union events for the period between 1 July and November.

Peter Hain: The information is as follows.
	4 June—ECOFIN—Brussels
	1. Adoption of the agenda
	2. (poss.) Approval of the list of "A" items
	3. Preparation of the Seville European Council
	Council report on Broad Economic Policy and Guidelines
	Council report on administrative co-operation in tax matters
	4. (poss.) Recasting of the Financial Regulation
	5. Macro-financial assistance
	Policy debate
	6. Directive on prospectuses
	Policy debate
	7. (poss.) Directive on Institutions for Occupational Retirement Provision
	Political agreement
	8. Sixth half-yearly Commission report on the Financial Services Action Plan
	9. Tax Matters
	Tax Package
	Savings taxation
	Report on dependent or associated territories
	Report on negotiations with third States
	Code of Conduct: progress report
	(poss.) Taxation of biofuels
	Political agreement
	(poss.) Energy taxation
	Administrative co-operation in tax matters
	Council conclusions
	VAT treatment of cross-border motor vehicle leasing
	10. Methods of evaluating output gaps
	11. Advantages of the different types of pension schemes
	12. Other business
	6–7 June—Industry and Energy Council—Brussels
	1. Approval of provisional agenda
	2. (poss.) Approval of the list of "A" items
	3. Competitiveness and enterprise policy in the EU
	(a) Commission communication "Productivity: the key to competitiveness"—annual Commission report on competitiveness (2002)
	Presentation by the Commission and discussion
	Council conclusions
	(b) Communication from the Commission on the impact of the e-Economy on European businesses: economic analysis and political implications 14748/01 ECO 367
	Council conclusions
	(c) Report on the European Charter for Small Enterprises: Follow-up to the Barcelona European Council on 15 and 16 March 2002
	Presidency briefing 6125/02 ECO 38
	4. Sustainable development
	(a) Strategy for chemicals
	Commission briefing
	(b) Contribution of enterprise policy to sustainable development
	Discussion
	Council conclusions
	5. Steel
	(a) Expiry of the ECSC treaty
	Commission briefing
	(b) Situation on the world steel market
	Commission briefing
	6. (poss.) Shipbuilding
	(a) Fifth report from the Commission to the Council on the situation in world shipbuilding
	Presentation by the Commission 8689/02 RC 6
	(b) Proposal for a Council regulation concerning a temporary defensive mechanism inn shipbuilding (LA)(*) (Articles 87(3) and 89 of the treaty) 11335/01 RC 14 WTO 83
	7. Competition
	(a) Proposal for a Council regulation on the implementation of the rules on competition laid down in Articles 81 and 82 of the treaty and amending regulations (EEC) No. 1017/68, (EEC) No. 2988/74, (EEC) No. 4056/86 and (EEC) No. 3975/87
	Progress report
	(b) XXXIst Commission report on Competition Policy 2001
	Presentation by the Commission 8455/02 RC 4
	8. (poss.) Reduction/re-orientation of public aid, State-aid scoreboard—spring 2002 edition
	Presentation by the Commission
	9. Life sciences and biotechnology—A strategy for Europe
	Council conclusions 6415/02 RECH 40 ENV 103 CONSOM 14 SAN 24 DEVGEN 15 MI 31 IND 23 AGRI 43 SOC 87 RELEX 27 EDUC 30 AG 6
	10. Euromed—industrial cooperation
	Presidency briefing on the outcome of the Ministerial Conference in Malaga on 9 and 10 April 2002 7922/02 ECO 116 MED 30
	11. G10 medicinal products
	Report from the High-Level Working Party on innovation and the supply of medicinal products
	Commission briefing
	Energy (7 June 2002)
	12. Proposal for a Council regulation on state aid to the coal industry after the expiry of the ECSC treaty (LA) (*) (Articles 87 and 89 TEC)
	Political agreement
	13. Internal market in electricity and gas
	(a) Proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directives 96/92/EC and 98/30/EC concerning common rules for the internal market in electricity and natural gas (LA) (*) (Article 95 TEC)
	Political agreement
	(b) Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on conditions for access to the network for cross-border exchanges in electricity (LA) (Article 95 TEC)
	Progress report
	14. Proposal for an amendment to the Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Decision 1254/96/EC laying down a series of guidelines for trans-European energy networks (LA) (Article 196 TEC)
	General approach
	15. Proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the promotion of the use of biofuels for transport (LA) (Article 175 TEC)
	General approach
	16. Energy Charter
	Progress report
	17. Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council adopting a multi-annual programme for action in the field of energy: "Intelligent Energy for Europe" Programme (2003–2006) (LA) (Article 175 TEC)
	Presentation by the Commission
	18. Security of energy supply
	Commission briefing on follow-up to consultations on the Green Paper on security of supply
	Other business
	Other business
	3—Brussels—Employment and Social Affairs Council
	3—Brussels—Eurogroup (evening)
	4—Brussels—ECOFIN
	6–7—Brussels—Convention on the Future of Europe—Plenary Session
	6–7—Madrid—EU-ASEM meeting (EU 15)
	6–8—Brussels—Foreign Affairs (ASEM Ministers)
	10–11—Brussels—General Affairs Council
	10–11—Brussels—Agriculture Council
	11—Brussels—Fisheries Council
	13–14—Brussels—Justice and Home Affairs Council
	17–18—Brussels—Transport and Telecommunications Council
	17–18—Brussels—General Affairs Council
	21–22—Seville—European Council
	24—Brussels—General Affairs Council (evening)
	24–25—Brussels—Convention on the Future of Europe—Plenary Session
	24–25—Brussels—Environment Council
	25—Brussels—ECOFIN
	26—Brussels—Health Council
	The following are the principal events in the EU between 1 July and November 2002. The list is based on the information available at the date of issue.
	
		
			 Date Venue Event 
		
		
			 July   
			 12–13 Kolding Meeting of Employment and Social Policy Ministers (Informal) 
			 15–16 Brussels Agriculture Council 
			 19 Brussels Budget Meeting 
			 19–21 Arhus Environment Ministers meeting (Informal) 
			 22–23 Brussels General Affairs Council 
			
			 August   
			 31–1 Elsinore Gymnich (Ministerial Informal) 
			
			 September   
			 6 Brussels ASEM Economic Ministers Meeting 
			 6–8 Copenhagen ECOFIN (Ministerial Informal) 
			 8–10 Nyborg Agriculture Council (Ministerial Informal) 
			 12–13 Copenhagen Justice and Home Affairs Council (Ministerial Informal) 
			 22–23 Copenhagen ASEM Meeting 
			 23–24 Brussels Agriculture Council 
			 26 Brussels Internal Market, Consumer Affairs and Tourism Council 
			 27 Tent ACP-EU Ministers Meeting 
			 30 Brussels Research Council 
			 30–1 Brussels General Affairs Council 
			
			 October   
			 3–4 Brussels Transport and Telecommunications Council 
			 8 Brussels ECOFIN 
			
			 October   
			 8 Brussels Employment and Social Policy Council 
			 14 Brussels Fisheries Council 
			 14–15 Brussels Justice and Home Affairs, and Civil Protection Council 
			 15–16 Brussels Agriculture Council 
			 17 Brussels Environment Council 
			 18–19 Aalborg Internal Market, Consumer Affairs and Industry Meeting (Ministerial Informal) 
			 21–22 Brussels General Affairs Council 
			 24–25 Brussels European Council 
			
			 November   
			 1 Brussels Culture Council 
			 2 Brussels ECOFIN—Troika meeting on Macro-Economic Dialogue 
			 12 Brussels Education and Youth Council 
			 14–15 Brussels Internal Market, Consumer Affairs and Youth Council 
			 18 Brussels Fisheries Council 
			 18–19 Brussels General Affairs Council 
			 19–20 Brussels Agriculture Council 
			 22 Brussels Development Council 
			 25–26 Brussels Budget [Council] 
			 25–26 Brussels Industry and Energy Council 
			 28–29 Brussels Justice and Home Affairs, and Civil Protection Council

SCOTLAND

East Coast Main Line

Iain Luke: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions she has had with the Strategic Rail Authority about improvements to the east coast main line north of Edinburgh.

Anne McGuire: My predecessor and Scotland Office officials met with senior management from the Strategic Rail Authority on 16 May. They discussed a range of issues including matters relative to the east coast main line north of Edinburgh.
	It was clear from the meeting that Richard Bowker leads a senior management team with a vision and commitment to improve rail services, knowledge of the rail system, and a pragmatic approach to getting the job done.

National Minimum Wage

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people in Scotland benefit from the national minimum wage.

Helen Liddell: Some 110,000 people across Scotland have benefited from the national minimum wage since it was introduced in April 1999.

Economic Trends

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on business growth and inward investment in Scotland.

Helen Liddell: Business support is devolved and policy responsibility rests with the Scottish Executive with delivery through the enterprise networks in Scotland. Scottish Development International will be publishing its latest annual inward investment results later this year.
	This Government have put in place macroeconomic policies which are delivering economic stability, low inflation and low interest rates—providing a platform for business growth and confidence.

Economic Trends

John MacDougall: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when she last met the Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning; and if she will make a statement on prospects for economic prosperity with reference to inward investment.

Helen Liddell: I meet with Ministers of the Scottish Executive on a regular basis.
	The UK economy coped well with the challenges posed by the world economic slowdown in 2001 and grew by 2.25 per cent. in 2001—the fastest of any G7 economy. The UK fundamentals remain strong—with the UK on course for sustained growth with low inflation. Scottish Development International, which is responsible to the Scottish Executive, will be publishing its latest annual inward investment results later this year.

Air Links

Tom Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on progress made on expanding direct air links from Scottish airports to European destinations.

Helen Liddell: The Government, together with the Scottish Executive, will shortly publish a regional consultation document on air services in Scotland. This will set out the options for development of Scotland's airports and air services for the next 30 years.
	Over the past year I have held meetings with the airlines, business organisations in Scotland and with the airport operators and tourism authorities with the aim of stimulating a response to the demand for more direct flights.

Scottish Tourism

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps she is taking to promote Scottish tourism.

Helen Liddell: I am undertaking a wide range of events to assist in promoting tourism to Scotland. On 15 May I hosted a reception for the overseas and UK managers of the BTA. On 26 June, I will join my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and the Secretary of State for Wales in hosting a reception at Dover House to thank the partners of the BTA for their contribution to the one million extra visitors advertising campaign.
	My Friends of Scotland team work very closely with the BTA and VisitScotland to ensure that the tourism message is a key part of my efforts to promote Scotland around the world.

Customs Officers

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when she last discussed the deployment of customs officers in remote areas of Scotland with Treasury Ministers.

Anne McGuire: My right hon. Friend has frequent discussions with Treasury Ministers on a wide range of issues.

Broadband Coverage

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what joint initiatives she has launched with the Scottish Executive to increase the coverage of broadband in Scotland.

Helen Liddell: The UK Government work closely with the Scottish Executive to ensure that reserved and devolved responsibilities relating to the extension of broadband coverage in Scotland are co-ordinated.
	The Government have made available a £30 million fund for broadband, of which the Scottish Executive will receive £4.4 million to promote affordable pervasive access to broadband connections across Scotland.

Economic Development

John McFall: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans she has for increased public expenditure on economic development in Scotland.

Helen Liddell: The Government provided a substantial increase for public expenditure in Scotland in the 2002 Budget. Scotland will receive annual increases ranging from £224 million in 2003–04 to £3.2 billion in 2007–08. Economic development is a devolved matter and it is for the Scottish Executive and the Scottish Parliament to decide on the allocation of resources according to their own priorities for Scotland.

Fireworks

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions she has had with ministerial colleagues about the regulation of firework sales.

Anne McGuire: The Government is aware about concerns in this area and is carefully considering what action should be taken.

Enterprise

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what joint initiatives she has launched with the Scottish Executive to encourage enterprise in Scotland.

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what joint initiatives she has launched with the Scottish Executive to encourage enterprise in Scotland.

Helen Liddell: The Scotland Office continues to promote joint working between the Government and the Scottish Executive across a wide range of issues where there are shared or complementary interests, including matters which will encourage enterprise.

Business Links (Europe)

Rosemary McKenna: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent steps she has taken to further the interests of Scottish business within the European Union.

Helen Liddell: The EU is Scotland's most important export market representing 63 per cent. of Scottish manufactured exports. I have regular discussions both with business organisations and within Government to ensure that Scottish business benefits from membership of the EU.

Asset Seizures

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on the action being taken to seize the assets of major drug dealers in Scotland.

Anne McGuire: We are determined to put in place even stronger seizure and confiscation procedures than currently exist and the Proceeds of Crime Bill, once law, will achieve that. This is a top priority and I will be working with Home Office and Scottish Executive colleagues to ensure the overall anti-drugs messages are effective.

Postal Services

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry concerning deregulation of postal deliveries in Scotland.

Anne McGuire: None. Regulation of postal services in Scotland is a matter for Postcomm.

Postal Services

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on the reform of postal services in Scotland.

Anne McGuire: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for North Wiltshire (Mr. Gray), Official Report, column 703.

Postal Services

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when she will next meet representatives from Consignia to discuss the reform of Scotland's postal services.

Anne McGuire: I have no immediate plans to meet with representatives from Consignia. However, I am in touch on a regular basis with a wide range of individuals and organisations in relation to postal services in Scotland.

Military Bases

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when she next expects to meet MOD officials to discuss military bases in Scotland.

Anne McGuire: My right hon. Friend has regular contact with the Ministry of Defence to discuss a wide range of issues, including military bases in Scotland.
	In 2000 (the latest year for which figures are available) the total deployment of defence personnel in Scotland was 24,400 of whom 15,100 were service personnel and 9,300 were civilian employees. This represents around 9.2 per cent. of UK defence personnel deployment.

Pensioner Income

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans she has to meet representatives of pensioners in Scotland to discuss the uptake of minimum income guarantee and the pensions credit.

Anne McGuire: I will be speaking at the Scottish Pensioners' Forum annual conference on 18 June in Dundee.

National Security

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will list her responsibilities in relation to national security.

Helen Liddell: I have no specific responsibilities for national security other than those discharged collectively through Cabinet and my membership of the Civil Contingencies Committee.

Asbestos

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on delays in payment of compensation to those with asbestos-related diseases in Scotland and the action taken by her to reduce delays.

Helen Liddell: I held a meeting on 24 April to discuss delays in dealing with claims against Chester Street. I have also issued a newsletter to all Scottish MPs. Progress is being made and a Service Standard has been laid down for dealing with Chester Street claims. Under this Service Standard, where damages are agreed and payment is due from the Association of British Insurers or the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, claims will be processed and paid within 25 working days. This timetable is dependent on documents requiring a claimant's signature being returned promptly.

Aggregates Tax

Richard Bacon: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if she will make a statement on the aggregates tax as it affects quarrying in Scotland.

Anne McGuire: The levy came into effect on 1 April 2002. It has been introduced to address the environmental impacts of the extraction and transportation of aggregates, including noise, dust, vibration, visual intrusion, loss of biodiversity and amenity. The levy will result in prices for primary aggregates which better reflect these environmental costs, and so encourage both the use of recycled aggregates as an alternative and more efficient use of aggregates.
	Part of the revenue from the aggregates levy will be used to establish the new Sustainability Fund, which will promote environmentally beneficial practices such as the use of recycled aggregate. Scotland stands to benefit from some £3 million from the fund.

CABINET OFFICE

Refurbishment (22 Whitehall)

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Cabinet Office when he will complete the inquiry into the procurement of timber for the refurbishment project of 22 Whitehall.

Douglas Alexander: As my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister stated to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, North (Ms Walley) on 14 May 2002, Official Report, column 567W, an initial report has been received and there will be a report to the House when the report is finalised.

Non-departmental Public Bodies

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Cabinet Office what the median length of time has been between the departure of a chief executive and the commencement in post of a successor for all non-departmental public bodies since 1997.

Douglas Alexander: Following the machinery of Government changes announced by the Prime Minister on 29 May, none of the non-departmental public bodies for which the Cabinet Office is responsible require a chief executive or equivalent.

Parliamentary Ombudsman

Andrew Turner: To ask the Cabinet Office what instructions are given to officials on responding to requests for papers by the Parliamentary Ombudsman.

Douglas Alexander: Guidance to officials on responding to requests for papers by the Parliamentary Ombudsman is set out in 'Handling of Parliamentary Ombudsman Cases.'
	'The Ombudsman in Your Files, the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information' and guidance on its interpretation are also relevant.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Information Technology

Vincent Cable: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement on the use of IT in the court system.

Yvette Cooper: Current IT systems in the courts are relatively old, limited in their scope and in their ability to communicate with IT in other parts of the justice system.
	The Lord Chancellor's Department has started a programme of IT modernisation to improve service to users of the justice system and to meet the e-Government targets set by the Prime Minister.
	The first step in this process is well under way with the introduction of a modern IT infrastructure and is 75 per cent. complete in the magistrates courts. Subject to funding, it will be completed in 2004 for the Crown and civil courts.

Justice of the Peace

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement about the nationality requirements for appointment as a justice of the peace.

Yvette Cooper: As the hon. Member may know, my noble and learned Friend recently discovered that 22 people have been appointed as magistrates contrary to the nationality requirements of the Act of Settlement 1701. This Act requires people seeking a place of trust under the Crown to hold citizenship of Britain, Eire or a Commonwealth country. We are considering ways to allow the 22 people to return to sitting at the earliest opportunity.

King Edward VIII

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will arrange for the release of official papers relating to the abdication of King Edward VIII.

Rosie Winterton: I refer the hon. Member to the number of written questions I have answered on this subject. Any official papers relating to the abdication of King Edward VIII will need to be re-reviewed by Departments. It is hoped that the results of the review will be known and put into effect by the end of the year.

Queen's Counsel System

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement about reform of the QC system.

Rosie Winterton: The Queen's Counsel system is one of a number of issues relating to the legal profession raised in the OFT report, which fall to my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor to consider. The Government plan to consult on those issues before the summer recess.

Magistrates Courts

David Taylor: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans she has for the rural magistrates court network.

Yvette Cooper: Magistrates courts committees (MCCs) are taking account of the need of rural users in the delivery of their services, by taking forward the rural proofing initiative, as set out in the rural White Paper. The Countryside Agency's rural proofing checklist was sent to all 42 MCCs in May 2001, to encourage MCCs to take into account the interests of rural communities when developing or implementing existing or new policy.
	Furthermore, my Department has been and continues to work closely with the Countryside Agency and the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, to put in place protocols to ensure that rural proofing options are carefully considered, before any decisions on the future of magistrates courts are concluded.

Magistrates Courts

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when she next expects to meet representatives of the magistracy to discuss magistrates courts in small towns.

Yvette Cooper: My predecessor my hon. Friend the Member for North Swindon (Mr. Wills) said in the debates on 1 May and 15 May that he would meet representatives of the magistracy to discuss magistrates' courts in Essex and Wiltshire. My office is in the process of arranging these meetings, but no dates have yet been confirmed.

Witness Protection

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the Government's policy on the protection of witnesses on court premises.

Yvette Cooper: The Government's policy is to provide adequate protection for witnesses on court premises to allow them to give their best evidence.
	The Court Service recognises that while witnesses are on court premises we have a responsibility to do what we can to prevent intimidation. For example, in all 67 designated street crime courts witnesses use a separate entrance or are segregated immediately on arrival. Provision for segregated waiting arrangements are made, as well as for separate catering and toilets to be used.

Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Services

Julie Morgan: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what discussions the Lord Chancellor has had with the National Assembly for Wales about the operation of CAFCASS in Wales.

Rosie Winterton: None. Since the creation of the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS), representatives of CAFCASS at board and director level have met, among others, the Assembly Minister for Health and Social Services, Jane Hutt, and the Heads of Government Offices in Wales. The director and members of CAFCASS (Cymru) have also attended a number of conferences organised by the National Assembly for Wales.

Court Sittings

Andy Burnham: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what action the Lord Chancellor's Department will take to facilitate the extension of court sitting hours in selected areas to deal with street crime; and if she will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: Extended court hours are currently being piloted in certain Magistrates courts in areas of high street crime, in London and Manchester. On completion of the four month pilot period at the end of September we will assess whether such an approach is a cost-effective means of reducing delays and best serves the needs of victims and witnesses, and in the light of that assessment will consider its possible extension to other criminal courts.

Court Reform

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 20 March 2002, Official Report, column 414W, if she will make a further statement on her plans to reform (a) criminal and (b) magistrates court;
	(2)  what plans she has to introduce a White Paper on the reform of (a) criminal and (b) magistrates courts; when she intends to publish that White Paper; and if she will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: Sir Robin Auld's Review of the Criminal Courts in England and Wales makes wide- ranging recommendations. The period for comment closed on 31 January. The Government have taken no decisions on the report and are now considering the recommendations in detail, taking account of the comments received. The Government will announce their conclusions by way of a White Paper before the summer recess.

Court Reform

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations she has had from (a) magistrates and (b) magistrates courts committees, following her review of the criminal and magistrates courts system; and if she will a statement.

Yvette Cooper: We have received nearly 500 responses. On behalf of (a) magistrates, we have received responses from over 60 individuals who identified themselves as magistrates; and (b) of the 42 magistrates courts committee areas representations have been received from 37 areas.

Committee Mandates

John Bercow: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the mandate of the Committee on the service in the member states of judicial and extrajudicial documents and on co-operation between the courts of the member states in the taking of evidence in civil or commercial matters is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: There are two separate committees, one relating to the regulation on the service in the member states of judicial and extrajudicial documents and the other relating to the regulation on co-operation between the courts of the member states in the taking of evidence in civil and commercial matters. The former has met once in the last year to provide information to bring the regulation into force. No further meetings have been scheduled. The UK was represented by an official from the Lord Chancellor's Department and another from the Scottish Executive. The cost of attendance at this meeting was approximately £400. The latter will not meet until after the Regulation applies from 1 January 2004. It will meet only when it is necessary to review the standard forms in the annexe to the regulation. As both committees are responsible only for the implementation of regulations that have already been subject to parliamentary scrutiny there are no plans to change the accountability or transparency of either.

Committee Mandates

John Bercow: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the mandate of the Committee on the jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and in matters of parental responsibility for children of both spouses and on the jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters (Brussels I and II) is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if she will list the items currently under its consideration; if she will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if she will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The committees which considered the two conventions mentioned (Brussels I and II) concluded their work over a year ago and are no longer in existence. Neither committee met within the last 12 months.

Mortgage Defaults

Chris Ruane: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many court repossessions of homes because of default on mortgages there have been in each of the last 20 years.

Yvette Cooper: Specific reasons for the instigation of mortgage possession proceedings in the county courts are not collected centrally and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost to the Department. However, for information purposes, figures are provided in the table illustrating the number of possession warrants executed as a percentage of orders made for both mortgage and rent possessions. It is not currently possible to split the warrants executed figure into mortgage and rent components.
	
		Mortgage and rent possession actions—possession orders and warrants issued and executed
		
			  Mortgage and rent possession actions  
			   Possession warrants: Warrants executed as percentage of:  
			  Possession orders made(17) Issued Executed Orders made Warrants issued 
		
		
			 2001 158,857 133,500 65,620 41.3 49.2 
			 2000 161,746 134,478 61,581 38.1 45.8 
			 1999 171,518 136,718 68,723 40.1 50.3 
			 1998 178,291 129,961 59,701 33.5 45.9 
			 1997 157,025 115,646 49,865 31.8 43.1 
			 1996 159,052 111,473 48,587 30.5 43.6 
			 1995 157,857 117,301 51,096 32.4 43.6 
			 1994 141,242 115,688 49,222 34.8 42.5 
			 1993 188,007 124,271 51,333 27.3 41.3 
			 1992 223,839 124,211 62,439 27.9 50.3 
			 1991 237,918 133,101 61,139 25.7 45.9 
			 1990 216,288 106,980 41,799 19.3 39.1 
			 1989 164,843 85,310 29,287 17.8 34.3 
			 1988 117,879 70,121 28,588 24.3 40.8 
			 1987 101,340 66,813 30,092 29.7 45.0 
			 1986 91,091 59,971 30,302 33.3 50.5 
			 1985 82,516 53,172 26,116 31.6 49.1 
			 1984 79,917 49,563 23,934 29.9 48.3 
			 1983 87,748 45,817 20,373 23.2 44.5 
			 1982 106,555 50,711 20,951 19.7 41.3 
		
	
	(17) Includes suspended orders

Funding (Luton, South)

Margaret Moran: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what moneys have been provided (a) directly and (b) via agencies for which the Department has responsibility to the Luton, South constituency since 1997.

Yvette Cooper: The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Land Sales

Peter Luff: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will list the land that her Department is (a) offering for sale and (b) plans to offer in the next 12 months, giving its (i) location and (ii) size.

Yvette Cooper: The Lord Chancellor's Department currently has (a) no land which is offered for sale and (b) no plans to offer any land for sale in the next 12 months.

Celebrations

Tim Loughton: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what arrangements her Department has made to celebrate (a) St Patrick's Day, (b) St George's Day, (c) St Andrew's Day and (d) Her Majesty the Queen's Golden Jubilee; and how her Department celebrated St David's Day.

Yvette Cooper: I apologise for the delay in replying. This was due to an administrative oversight. I refer the hon. Member to the reply the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport gave to the hon. Member for Suffolk, South (Mr. Yeo) in response to his question of 30 January 2002, Official Report, 11 February 2002, columns 58–59W.
	The Department flies the Union flag on certain days of the year known as 'named days'. 'Named days' include St David's Day (in Wales), St George's Day (in England), St Andrew's Day (in Scotland), but not St Patrick's Day.
	The Union flag was flown on Coronation Day (2 June) as this was a 'named day'.

Supreme Court

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement on her policy on a separate new Supreme Court; and if she will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The Government do not believe that a sufficient case has been made for the abolition of the Appellate Committee of the House of Lords and its replacement by a separate new Supreme Court.

Youth Court

Kate Hoey: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment the Department has made of the effect on the attendance of witnesses of youth court adjournments.

Yvette Cooper: A joint monitoring scheme with the Crown Prosecution Service and other criminal justice agencies began on 1 April in all magistrates courts. This collects data for all adjourned trials including youth cases, and includes the attendance of witnesses. The first quarterly figures will be available in July 2002. The Crown court also operates a similar monitoring scheme. The data will inform a research project, planned to start later this year, to investigate the effect of trial adjournments on witness attendance. It will include youth cases.

Correspondence

George Howarth: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what targets her Department and the agencies it sponsors have for responding to correspondence (a) from hon. Members and (b) from members of the public; and what her Department's performance against such targets has been for each of the last 36 months in both categories.

Rosie Winterton: Pursuant to my reply of 26 March 2002, Official Report, columns 842–44, I regret that the information provided for Court Service HQ for 1 April 2001 to 31 December 2001 was incorrect. The 1 April 2001 to 31 December 2001 figure of 94 per cent. represented performance against the previous 20 working day target and not the current 15 working day target. The table for the "Percentage of correspondence from MPs answered within target" should have read:
	
		Percentage of correspondence from MPs answered within target -- Per cent.
		
			   1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 1 April 2001 to 31 December 2001 
		
		
			 LCD Headquarters 88 76 73 75 
			 Land Registry(18) 100 91 93 79 
			 Public Trust Office(19) 99 83 78 — 
			 Public Guardianship Office — — — 52 
			 Public Record Office 100 100 96 100 
			 Court Service HQ(20) 99 93 94 74 
		
	
	(18) Figures for the Land Registry are for the calendar years 1998, 1999 and 2000.
	(19) The Public Guardianship Office was created on 1 April 2001 when the Public Trust Office ceased to exist.
	(20) The Court Service target in 1998–99, 1999–2000 and 2000–01 was 20 working days and was tightened to 15 days from 1 April 2001. The percentage figure for 1 April 2001 to 31 December 2001 is against the 15 day target.

PRIME MINISTER

Lakshmi Mittal

Michael Ancram: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to the answer by the Foreign Secretary of 21 May 2002, Official Report, column 255, on meetings with embassy staff, what the overall benefit to the United Kingdom was of the Lakshmi Mittal Romanian steel contract.

Tony Blair: I refer the right hon. Member to the answers I gave the hon. Members for Isle of Wight (Mr. Turner) and for East Carmarthen and Dinefwr (Adam Price) on 14 February 2002, Official Report, columns 610–12W.

Nepal

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the discussions he held with the Nepalese Prime Minister on his recent visit to London; and what commitments were made regarding military assistance and exports.

Tony Blair: I refer the right hon. and learned Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for North Essex (Mr. Jenkin) on 20 May 2002, Official Report, column 55W.
	The United Kingdom will be hosting a conference in London in June with the aim of bringing together the international community to agree a common strategy of support for Nepal. This will address security concerns as well as the political and developmental challenges facing Nepal.

Royal Marriages

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with his counterparts in independent countries within the Commonwealth where the Queen is head of state about providing for (a) the monarch and (b) the heir to the throne to enter into a morganatic marriage.

Tony Blair: None.

TREASURY

Aggregates Levy

Alex Salmond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if a review date has been set when the effectiveness of the Sustainability Fund established by the Aggregates Levy will be assessed.

Michael Meacher: I have been asked to reply.
	The Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund will be distributed through the Countryside Agency, English Heritage, English Nature, WRAP, DTI's Construction Innovation and Research Management Programme, DTLR's Planning Research programme, Clean Up programme and Freight Facilities Grant. It will run for two years initially, with £29.3 million available each year. The fund aims to reduce damage to the environment from extracting aggregates by reducing the demand for primary aggregates, promoting more environmentally friendly extraction and transport and reducing the effect of local aggregate extraction.
	Monitoring and review arrangements will be put in place to assess the impact of the fund and help inform future decisions on how the fund works, although there is no specific review date.

Press Office

Simon Burns: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total cost of running the Department's press office was in (a) 1996–97 and (b) the latest year for which figures are available.

Ruth Kelly: holding answer 10 April 2002
	It is not possible to separate out figures for the cost of running the press office. The number of press officers employed across this period remained broadly constant. Figures are available for the total running costs for the strategy and public inquiry unit and press office combined, which were as follows:
	1996–97: £694,419
	2000–01: £1,235,649.

Monetary Policy Committee

Michael Jack: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which members of (a) the Monetary Policy Committee and (b) his office had communications by (i) personal meeting, (ii) telephone call, (iii) e-mail and (iv) other forms of communications during the period 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2002; and how many such contacts occurred.

Ruth Kelly: The Chancellor meets with the Governor of the Bank of England regularly to discuss a wide range of issues. He does not have regular contact and there are no official meetings with other members of the MPC.

Hospital Transport

Paul Burstow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his Department will bring forward proposals to exempt VAT paid by charities on fuel for (a) the transport of out-patients to hospital in voluntary sector-run patient transport vehicles and (b) for accident and emergency transport which would otherwise be undertaken by NHS ambulance trusts.

John Healey: Long-standing agreements with our European partners mean that the UK may not relieve road fuel from VAT. Accident and emergency transport is undertaken only by NHS ambulance trusts.

VAT Exemptions (Voluntary Sector)

Paul Burstow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his Department will bring forward proposals to exempt from VAT, projects whereby voluntary organisations in the care sector extend their building in order to take on new partnership arrangements with a local authority.

John Healey: Construction of new buildings and of annexes to existing buildings by charities, including those in the care sector, is already subject to a zero rate of VAT provided the building or annex is to be used for a relevant charitable purpose. The Government have no plans to extend VAT reliefs in this area.

Construction Industry

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will extend the Inland Revenue definition of a permanent place of work in respect of those employed in the construction industry.

Dawn Primarolo: Employees working in the construction industry are subject to the same tax rules as other employees. We have no plans to change this.

NORTHERN IRELAND

IRA Ceasefire

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 23 May 2002, Ref. 48766, on the IRA ceasefire, what activities (a) within and (b) outside the UK by the Provisional IRA he assessed in order to reach his determination on the level of threat to the ceasefire; and what activities he defines as constituting a breach of the ceasefire.

Jane Kennedy: The Secretary of State keeps the status of all paramilitary ceasefires under constant review. Any judgment on the status of an organisation's ceasefire is made in the round in the light of all the available information and taking account of the views of security advisers.

Job Advertisements

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 4 March 2002, Official Report, column 579W, on job advertisements, what the outcome was of the advertisements placed in each case; and how many more have joined his Department's payroll as a result.

Jane Kennedy: As a result of the advertisements, detailed in the answer of 4 March 2002, Official Report, column 579W, all the vacancies have been filled/are in the process of being filled by successful candidates. A total of 15 new starts have so far joined the Department's payroll.

Statutory Instruments

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the statutory instruments issued by his Department in the last 12 months, indicating (a) the purpose of each and (b) the cost of each to (i) public funds, (ii) businesses and (iii) individuals.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is as follows:
	Statutory instrument—The Financial Investigations (Northern Ireland) 2001
	Purpose
	This amends Part IV of the Proceeds of Crime (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (NI9) ("the 1996 Order").
	The Order provides additional investigation powers to cover investigations into the extent or whereabouts or property held or transferred within the previous six years by or to a person who has benefited from conduct of a criminal nature. The Order also allows senior customs officers to apply for a financial investigator to be appointed and other powers to assist in the recovery of the proceeds of crime. The Order also extends a power to require information regarding money laundering and a power to require a solicitor to provide information as to whether a specified person was a client of his in respect of certain matters and about the nature of any transaction relating to them. The Order also extends the time limit for bringing summary proceedings for offences.
	Costs
	There will be a neutral impact on any public expenditure incurred on implementing the proposals, as they will be met within existing resources. It is anticipated that these proposals will result in additional revenue from the confiscation of the proceeds of crime. There will be a small impact on businesses, particularly solicitors. It is anticipated that no more than eight man hours would be required to meet an individual request from a financial investigator at £15 to £20 per hour, this suggests a maximum of £160 per request. As to the number of requests that are likely to be made on solicitors for information in a similar regime which already exists regarding banks 20 such requests have been made since 1998. There will be no financial impact on individuals.
	Statutory Instrument—The Police (Northern Ireland) Order 2001
	Purpose
	The Order amends two provisions of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000. Section 41, which deals with trainees, is amended so that, before the Northern Ireland Policing Board is established, references to the Board are to be construed as references to the Police Authority for Northern Ireland.
	Section 76 is amended so that draft orders under section 47(3) (renewal of temporary provisions on recruitment) and 54 (emblems and flags) are subject to the affirmative resolution procedure rather than the procedure provided for in section 6 of the Statutory Instruments Act 1946.
	The Order also amends the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 to include police trainees and police reserve trainees in the provision which exempts police officers from the need for a firearm certificate.
	Costs
	No costs to either public funds, businesses or individuals.
	Statutory Instrument—The Criminal Injuries Compensation (Northern Ireland) Order 2001
	Purpose
	This Order repeals the Criminal Injuries (Compensation) (Northern Ireland) Order 1988. It replaces the arrangements under that Order for paying compensation for criminal injuries. The key features of the new arrangements are:
	(a) the introduction of a new statutory scheme;
	(b) the establishment of a tariff of injuries to calculate the standard amount of compensation;
	(c) in certain cases payment for loss of earnings and special expenses;
	(d) the introduction of a new bereavement support payment;
	(e) provision for review of decisions;
	(f) the establishment of an independent appeals panel to hear appeals against decisions of the Secretary of State;
	(g) the introduction of funded support and assistance from a designated body to replace paid legal assistance.
	Costs
	It is anticipated that the proposed scheme will be capable of delivering fair compensation without incurring any additional costs to the Exchequer. It is likely that savings will accrue in the longer term, but, for the initial five years, additional funds for the compensation budget will be necessary while claims are settled under both the new and existing schemes. There are no costs to businesses and individuals.

Young People

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what subjects and on which dates his Department has consulted organisations representing young people; and if he will list such organisations.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is set out in the following table.
	
		
			 Organisation Subject consulted on Date consulted 
		
		
			 Childline Proposed Draft Criminal Injuries Compensation (NI) Order June 2001 
			 Children's Law Centre Proposed Draft Criminal Injuries Compensation (NI) Order June 2001 
			 Putting Children First Proposed Draft Criminal Injuries Compensation (NI) Order June 2001 
			 Youth Council for NI Proposed Draft Criminal Injuries Compensation (NI) Order June 2001 
			 NIACRO Community Safety 2000 
			 Youth Council Community Safety 2000 
			 DENI Community Safety 2000 
			 Extern Community Safety 2000 
			 Belfast Education and Library Board Community Safety 2000

Press Subscriptions

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the newspapers subscribed to (a) Monday to Saturday and (b) on Sunday by his Department, stating for each subscription (i) the number of copies taken, and (ii) the annual cost.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			 Newspapers Number of copies per week 
		
		
			 Monday to Saturday  
			 Belfast Telegraph 373 
			 Daily Express 62 
			 Daily Mail 101 
			 Daily Mirror 68 
			 Daily Record 5 
			 Daily Star 45 
			 Daily Telegraph 106 
			 Evening Standard 11 
			 Financial Times 53 
			 Guardian 101 
			 Independent 96 
			 Irish Independent 71 
			 Irish News 213 
			 Irish Star 5 
			 Irish Times 164 
			 Morning Star 1 
			 News Letter 212 
			 The Sun 70 
			 The Times 139 
			   
			 Weekly newspapers  
			 Andersonstown News 2 
			 An Phoblacht 1 
			 Antrim Guardian 4 
			 Antrim Times 1 
			 Armaghdown Observer 1 
			 Ballymena Guardian 2 
			 Ballymena Times/Observer 1 
			 Ballymoney and Moyle Times 2 
			 Banbridge Chronicle 3 
			 Carrick Advertiser 2 
			 Coleraine Chronicle 3 
			 Coleraine Times 1 
			 County Down Spectator 4 
			 Derry Sentinel 1 
			 Derry Journal 9 
			 Derry People (Donegal News) 1 
			 Down Democrat 1 
			 Down Recorder 3 
			 Dromore Leader 2 
			 Dungannon Observer 1 
			 Fermanagh Herald 2 
			 Impartial Reporter 2 
			 Larne Times 3 
			 Lurgan Mail 2 
			 Lurgan Portadown Examiner 1 
			 Mid Ulster Mail 2 
			 Mid-Ulster Observer 3 
			 Mourne Observer 2 
			 Newry Democrat 2 
			 Newry Reporter 3 
			 Newtownabbey Times 3 
			 Newtownards Chronicle 4 
			 Newtownards Spectator 2 
			 North Belfast News 2 
			 Northern Constitution 2 
			 Outlook 1 
			 Portadown Times 3 
			 Roe Valley Sentinel 2 
			 Strabane Weekly News 2 
			 Strabane Chronicle 2 
			 Tyrone Constitution 2 
			 Tyrone Courier 2 
			 Tyrone Times 1 
			 Ulster Star 4 
			 Ulster Gazette 2 
			 Ulster Herald 2 
			   
			 Sunday newspapers  
			 Independent on Sunday 5 
			 Ireland on Sunday 2 
			 Mail on Sunday 4 
			 News of the World 4 
			 Observer 6 
			 Sunday Business Post 3 
			 Sunday Express 5 
			 Sunday Independent 4 
			 Sunday Life 9 
			 Sunday Mirror 5 
			 Sunday People 5 
			 Sunday Telegraph 5 
			 Sunday Times 6 
			 Sunday Tribune 5 
			 Sunday World 9 
		
	
	The annual cost is £63,528.55.

Victims' Rights

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures are in place to protect the rights of victims of terrorism in Northern Ireland; which of the measures for victims' rights contained within the Belfast Agreement have been implemented; and what plans he has to protect victims' rights.

Des Browne: The Belfast agreement 1998 makes specific reference to the importance of acknowledging and addressing the suffering of victims of violence as a necessary element of reconciliation, and recognises the need to provide services that are supportive and sensitive to their individual needs.
	In November 1997 the Government had appointed Sir Kenneth Bloomfield as head of a Victims' Commission
	"to examine the feasibility of providing greater recognition for those who have become victims in the last 30 years as a consequence of events in Northern Ireland"
	and asked him to consult various organisations concerned with the welfare of the bereaved and disabled as well as with community groups, churches and political parties and to make recommendations.
	Following publication of his report "We Will Remember Them" in April 1998, the Government appointed Adam Ingram as Minister for Victims and the Victims Liaison Unit was established to take forward the implementation of the report. Since then Government have committed more than £18.25 million to support victims of the Troubles, funding a number of initiatives including:
	£700k for a family trauma centre in Belfast which provides therapeutic service addressing the psychological needs of families and young people.
	£300k for an educational bursary pilot scheme—for individuals whose education was directly affect by the Troubles. 350 people received awards.
	£4 million to the Northern Ireland Memorial Fund with a commitment of a further £1 million for 2003–04. The fund has put in place a number of schemes including:
	The small grants scheme
	The chronic pain management scheme
	The respite break scheme
	The wheelchair assessment scheme
	The amputee assessment scheme
	The education and training scheme
	£225k initially for a victim support grants scheme to assist community groups and voluntary organisations to take forward recommendations in the Bloomfield report; and more recently a further £750,000 to extend this small grants scheme.
	£6.1 million core funding for groups who support victims of the troubles.
	£500k for initiatives in Great Britain including £250k for the legacy project. This project aims to identify and meet the needs of victims of the troubles living in Great Britain.
	£1.5 million over the next three years for the development of the Northern Ireland Centre for Trauma and Transformation.
	£1.5 million over the next two years to the Devolved Administration's Strategy Implementation Fund to help NI Departments fulfil their commitment to addressing victims' needs.
	It is now four years since the Bloomfield report was published and I replaced Adam Ingram as Victims Minister last June. I am currently reviewing the Government's strategic approach to the needs of victims in the context of the ongoing political process.
	Also, as part of the Belfast Agreement and the Northern Ireland Act 1998, the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission was given the responsibility of advising the Secretary of State on the scope for defining, in Westminster legislation, rights supplementary to those in the ECHR which, taken together with the ECHR, could constitute a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. The agreement also says that the Bill should reflect the particular circumstances of Northern Ireland.
	The Commission consultation document "Making a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland" indicated that the rights of victims, both those arising from the conflict and more generally, should be included in a Bill of Rights. The Government have drawn no policy conclusions from the consultation document but will give careful consideration to the formal recommendations made by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission which we expect to receive in 2003.

Correspondence

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many letters were received by each Minister in his Department in each month since June 1997.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested by the hon. Member is listed in the following table. It is not possible to attribute letters separately to the Minister of State and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland from members of the public. The combined totals have been provided on a separate table.
	
		Letters received by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland since June 1997
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 January — 1,184 627 571 346 415 
			 February — 1,053 724 1,073 268 423 
			 March — 899 939 731 255 284 
			 April — 841 657 757 200 251 
			 May — 959 446 636 196 235 
			 June — 1,082 892 458 238 — 
			 July 1,143 1,292 1,092 382 258 — 
			 August 641 1,118 740 265 388 — 
			 September 1,091 1,056 902 278 191 — 
			 October 952 712 874 296 561 — 
			 November 736 543 969 321 370 — 
			 December 643 487 375 184 198 — 
		
	
	
		Letters received by the Minister(s)(21) of State for Northern Ireland since June 1997
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 January — 106 + 12 67 + 15 56 45 60 
			 February — 107 + 29 53 + 22 52 38 62 
			 March — 110 + 28 102 + 21 68 54 58 
			 April — 89 + 19 70 + 19 38 39 55 
			 May — 102 + 22 53 + 15 42 41 39 
			 June — 84 + 14 88 + 21 83 38 — 
			 July 73 + 13 92 + 24 71 + 22 61 58 — 
			 August 49 + 21 75 + 10 56 52 43 — 
			 September 48 + 14 81 + 27 73 40 36 — 
			 October 61 + 21 72 + 42 94 51 57 — 
			 November 48 + 21 61 + 33 97 50 81 — 
			 December 58 + 14 57 + 20 85 30 43 — 
		
	
	(21) From July 1997 until July 1999 there were two Ministers of State at the Northern Ireland Office.
	
		Letters received by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland since August 1999
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 January — — — 8 4 38 
			 February — — — 14 7 28 
			 March — — — 19 10 35 
			 April — — — 11 3 28 
			 May — — — 7 3 23 
			 June — — — 9 12 — 
			 July — — — 4 25 — 
			 August — — 21 8 30 — 
			 September — — 18 3 26 — 
			 October — — 13 5 24 — 
			 November — — 9 7 21 — 
			 December — — 3 3 18 — 
		
	
	
		Letters received by the Minister(s) of State and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland from members of the public
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 
		
		
			 January — 18 14 13 14 27 
			 February — 75 16 7 9 14 
			 March — 124 19 7 6 7 
			 April — 20 13 21 9 10 
			 May — 27 5 16 3 — 
			 June — 10 9 4 10 — 
			 July 20 19 7 22 7 — 
			 August 7 11 9 2 19 — 
			 September 10 5 7 11 7 — 
			 October 13 17 14 6 27 — 
			 November 14 11 11 12 15 — 
			 December 10 6 4 4 8 —

Police Ombudsman

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what targets have been drawn up by the police ombudsman for the number of days taken to complete each stage of the complaints process; and what his assessment is of progress made towards meeting these goals.

Jane Kennedy: The police ombudsman advises that the targets for dealing with complaints are contained in the police ombudsman's corporate statement and annual business plan 2001–02. The targets are reproduced in the table and include the current levels of achievement. In a number of categories the process for measuring the level of achievement against target is currently at the development stage and therefore these figures are not yet available.
	
		
			 Target Level of achievement 
		
		
			 95 per cent. of telephone calls to the FreePhone number answered within 20 seconds 100 per cent. answered within 20 seconds 
			   
			 90 per cent. of complaints to be acknowledged by letter within three working days 77 per cent. acknowledged within three working days 
			   
			 90 per cent. of complainants calling at the Office to be seen within 10 minutes of arrival 100 per cent. seen within 10 minutes 
			   
			 90 per cent. of complaints to be allocated action within three working days 74 per cent. allocated action within three working days 
			   
			 90 per cent. of complaints for fast tracking to be allocated action within one working day 95 per cent. allocated action within one working day 
			  
			 90 per cent. of complaints to be referred for Informal Resolution within three working days of consent being given 78 per cent. referred within three working days of consent being given 
			   
			 90 per cent. of complainants to be kept informed of progress of Informal Resolution within seven weeks Target deemed inappropriate—progress of Informal Resolution is within control of the police 
			   
			 90 per cent. of complainants to be contacted within three working days of complaint being allocated Measurement methodologies currently in development; no information available 
			   
			 90 per cent. of statements from complainants to be taken within 21 days of complaint being allocated Measurement methodologies currently in development; no information available 
			   
			 95 per cent. of complainants to be kept informed of progress at least every four weeks Measurement methodologies currently in development; no information available 
			   
			 95 per cent. of police officers to be kept informed of progress at key stages of the investigation Measurement methodologies currently in development; no information available 
			   
			 95 per cent. of emergency incident calls from the police to be responded to 24 hours a day Measurement methodologies currently in development; no information available 
			   
			 70 per cent. of arrivals at emergency incident locations to within three hours at any time (1.5 hours in Greater Belfast) Measurement methodologies currently in development; no information available 
			   
			 70 per cent. of investigations completed by the office not to exceed 110 working days Measurement methodologies currently in development; no information available 
			   
			 95 per cent. of forensic exhibits for evidence to be submitted to forensic lab within two working days Measurement methodologies currently in development; no information available

Police Ombudsman

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will break down the number of complaints received by the police ombudsman by (a) perceived community origin, (b) gender and (c) other recorded categories of complainant.

Jane Kennedy: The police ombudsman advises that a monitoring form is issued to all complainants asking a number of questions. The answer provided is based on a return of monitoring forms from 2,731 complainants during 2001–02.
	
		(a) Community background of complainants
		
			   Percentage of  
			 Community background Number Total Those with known community background 
		
		
			 Catholic 208 8 40 
			 Church of Ireland 117 4 22 
			 Presbyterian 118 4 22 
			 Methodist 26 1 5 
			 Other religion 40 1 8 
			 No religion 15 1 3 
			 Unknown 2,207 81 — 
			  
			 Total 2,731 100 100 
		
	
	
		(b) Gender of complainants
		
			  Gender  Number  Percentage Percentage of those with known gender 
		
		
			 Male 1,981 73 74 
			 Female 694 25 26 
			 Unknown 56 2 — 
			 Total 2,731 100 100 
		
	
	
		(c) Age of complainants
		
			  Age group  Number  Percentage Percentage of those with known ages 
		
		
			 16–20 253 9 20 
			 21–30 423 15 33 
			 31–40 328 12 25 
			 41–50 186 7 14 
			 51–60 74 3 6 
			 60+ 29 1 2 
			 Unknown 1,438 53 — 
			 Total 2,731 100 100 
		
	
	
		Marital status of complainants 2001–02
		
			  Marital status  Number  Percentage Percentage of those with known marital status 
		
		
			 Married 184 7 35 
			 Single 194 7 37 
			 Separated 63 2 12 
			 Widowed 12 0 2 
			 Divorced 48 2 9 
			 Co-habiting 26 1 5 
			 Unknown 2,204 81 — 
			 Total 2,731 100 100 
		
	
	
		Occupational status of complainants 2001–02
		
			  Occupational status  Number  Percentage Percentage of those with known occupational status 
		
		
			 Working full-time 138 5 26 
			 Working part-time 37 1 7 
			 Unemployed 122 5 23 
			 Student 14 1 3 
			 Self-employed 60 2 11 
			 Retired 26 1 5 
			 Other 7 0 1 
			 Permanently sick 85 3 16 
			 Looking after family 40 1 8 
			 Unknown 2,202 81 — 
			 Total 2,731 100 100 
		
	
	
		Ethnic origin of complainants 2001–02
		
			  Ethnic origin  Number  Percentage Percentage of those with known ethnic origin 
		
		
			 White 516 19 99 
			 Indian 1 0 0 
			 Pakistani 2 0 0 
			 Mixed 1 0 0 
			 Other 5 0 1 
			 Unknown 2,206 81 — 
			 Total 2,731 100 100 
		
	
	
		Disability of complainants 2001–02
		
			  Disability  Number  Percentage Percentage of those known 
		
		
			 Yes 159 6 19 
			 No 678 25 81 
			 Unknown 1,894 69 — 
			 Total 2,731 100 100

HEALTH

Patient Records

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of (a) primary care and (b) hospital trusts have implemented electronic patient record systems.

Hazel Blears: Currently 98 per cent. of general practitioners' practices are computerised and linked to a national electronic network to support email communications and web browsing. Most of them operate clinical systems as part of their practice computerisation and an electronic patient record (EPR) will be part of the system. The level of detail and functionality varies significantly from practice to practice. In the majority of cases at present it will cover the electronic storage of basic patient and administrative details, medication and recent consultations with the GP.
	At present six trusts have complete hospital wide EPR systems that meet the functionality described under level 3. However many more have some applications in place, for example results reporting and order communications. In addition some trusts have chosen to implement elements of EPR beyond level 3 with functionality around decision support and knowledge management or picture archiving and communications systems to support improved patient care.
	That is why we are taking action by introducing a new national programme and implementation plan for information technology (IT) in the National Health Service. This will significantly step up the pace of getting modern IT in place to support frontline patient care and also ensure that IT both drives change and gets the best from the extra resources the NHS is now getting.
	The key points from the programme are:
	a new national IT programme director who will be responsible for the implementation of this programme;
	stringent national standards for data and IT in the NHS;
	an improved partnership with the IT industry and healthcare IT suppliers to increase the IT capacity for the NHS;
	a new procurement strategy to accelerate the impact of IT across the NHS
	better central management which will include a ministerial taskforce chaired by my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary, The Lord Hunt of Kingsheath, to ensure the advice and involvement of key healthcare professional and representative groups.
	The intention has always been to have a first generation of electronic records in use across the NHS from 2005. This will be the starting point from which the NHS can begin to apply the electronic record as a clinical tool in diagnosis, treatment, interventions and healthcare. By 2008, as indicated in "Delivering the NHS Plan", we will expect to see all the advanced applications and functionality of electronic patient records in all primary care trusts and trusts.

Mount Vernon Hospital

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with the Eastern Region Health Authority and the London NHS Region about the future of services at Mount Vernon Hospital;
	(2)  how many meetings he has had with NHS agencies about services provided at the Mount Vernon Hospital.

John Hutton: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health has not formally met with National Health Service agencies or regional offices. I have been made aware of the issues at my regular meetings with the director for London's directorate of health and social care. Also my hon. Friend the Minister for Public Health has had regular meetings with the director for the midlands and east of England on this issue.

Correspondence

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the reasons for the delay in replying to the letter from the hon. Member for Sutton Coldfield to him dated 1 October 2001.

Hazel Blears: I regret the delay was due to an administrative oversight.

Primary Care Premises

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of primary care premises are over 30 years old.

David Lammy: The data held centrally are those from surveys of health centres and general practitioner (GP) premises carried out by district valuers in 1999. These data indicate that some 52 per cent. of premises were originally constructed over 30 years ago.
	This proportion will be reduce as new premises are constructed under the NHS Plan.

Committee Mandates

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the mandate of the Standing Committee on Medicinal Products for Human Use is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: The standing committee on medicinal products for human use is a regulatory committee which assists the European Commission (EC) in exercising its powers of implementation and facilitates the adoption of draft measures in the field of medicinal products for human use. It also adopts decisions on centralised marketing authorisation applications and other regulatory actions referred to it by the European medicines evaluation agency (EMEA). It operates mainly by written procedures as set out in legislation. It meets only exceptionally, either on the chairman's initiative or at the reasoned request of the representative of a member state. The committee last met on 23 March 2000. The UK is represented by the chief executive of the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) or his deputy and, as MCA is a trading fund of the Department, no cost to public funds is generally incurred in supporting the committee's work.
	Together with member states, the EC is currently conducting a review to bring existing legislation on the conduct of comitology committees into line with Council Decision 1999/468/EC, to
	"simplify the requirements for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission". As an obligation under this decision, the Commission undertook to publish an annual report of the working of committees. The first report was deposited in the Libraries of both Houses on 26 February 2002 (Com (2001) 783 Final). As part of the review process, the UK Government have encouraged the Commission to produce and maintain an electronic database of every comitology committee, its agendas and recent actions, to be accessible through its website.

Committee Mandates

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the mandate of the Pharmaceutical Committee is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the UK representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: The pharmaceutical committee fulfils a useful role in that it provides a forum for European Union member states to exchange views and information. Its task is to assist the European Commission (EC) and to examine:
	any question relating to the application of directives on proprietary medicinal products which are brought up by its chairman—either on his initiative or at the request of the representative of a member state;
	any other question in the field of proprietary medicinal products brought up by its chairman—either on his initiative or at the request of the representative of a member state.
	The EC consults the committee when preparing proposals for, or amendments to, directives in the field of proprietary medicinal products. During 2001 the committee met on 5 April, 5 July and 16 November, and in 2002 it met on 14 May. The pharmaceutical committee network on bioterrorism was an ad hoc group which met twice, on 23 January 2002 and 20 February 2002. No further meetings of the network are planned.
	The UK is represented jointly by two senior public health officials from the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) and the Department. The EC reimburses travel and subsistence costs for one delegate from each member state. The annual cost of the committee's work to public funds varies according to the number of meetings held and make-up of the UK representation. The MCA provides the main Government support for the work of the committee and usually represents the UK. As the MCA is a trading fund of the Department, this incurs no cost to public funds. If a Department official attends with the MCA delegation, his/her expenses will be borne out of public funds. This has happened twice in the last 12 months and the amount of travel and subsistence involved was in the region of £860.00.
	Information about associated costs to public funds attributable to the Department, other than travel and subsistence, is not readily available and would incur disproportionate cost to identify.
	The committee considers a wide range of issues relating to medicines regulatory matters and a summary of its discussions is put on the EC's website after each meeting. Further details and documents are available from the EC on request.

Committee Mandates

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the mandate of the Committee for the implementation of the Community action programme on the prevention of drug dependence in the framework of the action plans for public health is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the United Kingdom representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The EU Committee for the implementation of the Community action programme on the prevention of drug dependence was mandated under Article 5 of Decision 102/97/EC of the European Parliament and the Council (amended under Article 4 of Decision 521/2001/EC). The committee assisted the Commission in taking forward the programme by providing opinions on proposed measures by the Commission. It is due to terminate with the introduction of the new EU action programme on public health.
	The committee met once in the last year, in January 2002. The United Kingdom is normally represented by an official from the Department.
	Costs of the committee to public funds are minimal. Meetings last one day and the Commission pays the travel costs of nominated representatives. UK Departments are required to pay subsistence and UK travel costs.
	The financial framework for implementation of the Community action programme on the prevention of drug dependence, from 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2002, is euro 5.38 million.
	The Commission has now decided which projects it will fund. This list will be published on the Department's website.
	Together with member states, the Commission is currently conducting a review to bring existing legislation on the conduct of comitology committees into line with Council Decision 1999/468/EC, to "simplify the requirements for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission".
	783 Final).
	As part of the review process, the UK Government have encouraged the Commission to produce and maintain an electronic database of every comitology committee, its agendas and recent actions, to be accessible through its website http://europa.eu.int/comm/health/index en.html.

Committee Mandates

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the mandate of the Committee for the implementation of the Community action programme on health monitoring in the framework of the action plan for public health is; how many times it has met over the last 12 months; what the United Kingdom representation on it is; what the annual cost of its work is to public funds; if he will list the items currently under its consideration; if he will take steps to increase its accountability and transparency to Parliament; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The EU Committee for the implementation of the Community action programme on health monitoring was mandated under Article 5 of Decision 1400/97/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council. The committee assisted the Commission in taking forward the programme by providing opinions on proposed measures by the Commission. It is due to terminate with the introduction of the new EU action programme on public health. The EU health monitoring programme is focused on the establishment of a consistent, permanent and coherent community health monitoring system.
	The committee met on two occasions in the last 12 months. One UK official from the Department attended the October 2001 and February 2002 meetings.
	Domestic travel and subsistence claims paid from public funds were £348. The Commission reimbursed international travel costs.
	Full details of the health monitoring work programme—including details of all projects funded between 1998 and 2001—are presented on Europa (the EU on-line website: http://europa.eu.int/index—en.htm).
	Together with member states, the Commission is currently conducting a review to bring existing legislation on the conduct of comitology committees into line with Council Decision 1999/468/EC, to
	"simplify the requirements for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission".
	As part of the review process, the UK Government have encouraged the Commission to produce and maintain an electronic database of every comitology committee, its agendas and recent actions, to be accessible through its website.

NHS Dentistry

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provisions he is making for the future expansion of NHS dentistry.

David Lammy: Over the last 18 months we have spent £100 million on modernising National Health Service dentistry. £10 million of this was for the Dental Care Development Fund and the Dentistry Action Plan Fund to support local plans to improve access. This money enables health authorities to assist dentists seeking to set up new practices and to expand and modernise existing ones.
	During 2001 the Chief Dental Officer led a working group to look at "Options for Change" to modernise NHS dentistry building on the Government's strategy document "Modernising NHS dentistry: Implementing the NHS Plan", published in September 2000.
	This group has completed its deliberations and the Government announced on 25 April that we intend to move forward plans to reform NHS dentistry developed by the "Options for Change" group.

Haemophilia

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will instigate an investigation into the change of treatment for haemophilia patients in the 1970s from a cryoprecipitate treatment originating from a single donor to an unheated treatment derived from large donor pools;
	(2)  what plans he has had to hold a public inquiry into how haemophiliac patients in the 1980s contracted hepatitis C and the HIV virus.

Hazel Blears: There are no plans to hold a public inquiry or to investigate haemophilia treatment practices in the 1970s.
	We understand that treatment with cryoprecipitate carried a number of disadvantages compared to pooled clotting factors. It required the patient to be treated in hospital, it could not be given to children, it was unsterilised and carried the risk of a number of side effects.
	Pooled plasma products did not carry these disadvantages and were therefore keenly received by patients and clinicians. It was not until the mid to late 1980s that the risks from hepatitis C were fully understood by which time viral inactivation of pooled plasma products had been introduced.

Haemophilia

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 14 May 2002 to the hon. Member for Falkirk East (Mr. Connarty), Official Report, column 618W, on haemophilia, if he will make a statement on the length of time the Government are taking to make a decision on whether to make recombinant clotting factors available to all haemophiliacs.

Hazel Blears: We have nothing further to add to our earlier response. We are still considering the provision of recombinant clotting factors for all haemophilia patients in England and will make a decision later this year.

Operating Instruments

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  upon whose recommendation, and for what reasons, disposable instruments were introduced for use in hospital operating theatres in England; what tests were carried out on the new disposable instruments; from which manufacturers the disposable instruments were sourced; what procedures were established to monitor the introduction and use of the instruments; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  for what reasons deaths and adverse incidents resulting from the use of disposable operating instruments do not have to be reported; how many deaths have been reported and over what period; if complications resulting from use of disposable instruments have been related to specific manufacturers; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  on what date a surgeon first complained to the authorities about the quality of the newly introduced disposable operating instruments; and how many complaints have been made since then;
	(4)  what steps his Department has taken to identify and contact parents and relatives of patients who have suffered adverse incidents in hospital operating theatres as a result of the use of disposable instruments who were not informed of their use at the time of the operations; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: The move to single use instruments for tonsil and adenoid surgery was part of the Department's strategy to reduce the risk of transmitting variant Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease (vCJD) through surgical instruments. This was in accordance with advice received from the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC).
	When the tenders for the contract were returned, a visual inspection of the instruments offered by all suppliers was undertaken. Once specific suppliers had been short-listed, their products were sent out to randomly selected ear, nose and throat surgeons to be used during operations. After each operation, the surgeons were asked to complete an evaluation form. The results of this evaluation were used during the selection of the successful suppliers.
	There are five companies on the National Health Service Purchasing and Supply Agency's framework agreement for single use instruments. They are:
	Meditech Systems Ltd.
	B+H Surgical Instrument Makers
	Rocialle Medical Ltd.
	Trust Sterile Services
	Axis Medical Ltd.
	We believe that there are other manufacturers of single use instruments who supplied products direct to NHS trusts, outside the Agency's framework agreement.
	In October 2001, the Department sent a questionnaire to all members of the British Association of Otorhinolaryngologists to ask their opinion of the single use instruments. As a result of the comments made, minor alterations were made to the product specification of some products, such as mouth gags.
	The medical devices regulations require device manufacturers to demonstrate that their devices meet essential safety requirements prior to placing them on the market. The safety and performance of devices in service is monitored by a mandatory vigilance system. Manufacturers are obliged to inform the competent authority (in the UK this is the Medical Devices Agency (MDA)) when an incident has occurred, involving their device, which may have caused a death or serious injury or which has the potential to cause death or serious injury.
	In addition, the MDA also operates a voluntary user reporting system for users to report any adverse incident involving a medical device. The MDA first received an adverse incident report from a user in April 2001. Since then, the MDA has received reports of incidents concerning all the manufacturers listed above. The MDA has identified from its adverse incident database a total of 125 reports in relation to non-powered instruments, (108 prior to December 2001). 24 reports have also been received relating to powered instruments (diathermy). Each incident has been investigated in conjunction with the device manufacturers and appropriate action taken. One death has been formally reported to the MDA. We are aware of a second, which is presently under investigation.
	There are possible risks in all surgical procedures. Therefore, before each operation, the clinician should explain the risks involved and any alternative treatment, to allow the patient or their family to give informed consent to the surgery. Tonsil and adenoid surgery is a relatively low risk operation, but where adverse incidents occur they are treated on a case by case basis by the NHS trust where the operation took place. Patients who have had their tonsils removed with single use instruments should not be concerned of any long-term effects following the surgery.

Food Allergies

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were recorded as suffering from food allergies in each of the last five years.

Hazel Blears: Data are not available for the prevalence of food allergy by individual year. The number of individuals suffering allergic reactions to food in the developed countries of the western world appears to be on the increase, which is in line with increases seen in other atopic diseases such as hay fever and asthma. In the UK general population, the calculated prevalence of adverse reactions to food (including food allergy) is less than 2 per cent.

Vaccines

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation regarding the pneumococcal vaccine.

Hazel Blears: The joint committee on vaccination and immunisation (JCVI) has identified issues relating to the development of policies for the future use of pneumococcal vaccines, which they are addressing. Studies on the interaction between pneumococcal vaccine and the current childhood immunisation programme are under way. The JCVI will review these when they are complete.

Brushing for Life Campaign

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer of 17 April, Official Report, column 1019W, what the cost per tube was of toothpaste distributed; what areas of the country were targeted for the project; and what evaluation of the scheme has taken place.

David Lammy: The total cost of each pack provided under the scheme is less than £1. The exact price is commercially sensitive information.
	£1 million has been set aside for the project. It initially covered the 21 health authorities with the highest levels of dental decay—11 in the North, 5 in Yorkshire and 5 in London—and also all areas not in receipt of fluoridated water where there are Sure Start schemes. However, we have since added 5 more in the North, 3 in Yorkshire and 2 in Devon, bringing the total health authorities benefiting from this scheme to 31.
	The Department has commissioned The Guys, Kings and St. Thomas Dental School to evaluate the scheme, which is due to run for 3 years.

Bed Blocking

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to address bed blocking in the Hampshire Health Authority; how many cases there have been in 2002; how many were from rural areas of Hampshire; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: Health and local authorities are working together to take action to improve the situation. In October 2001, additional funding of £300 million was announced to tackle this problem. In 2002–02, Hampshire received an additional £2.436 million from this money. The allocation for 2002–03 is £5.160 million.
	All information, collected centrally, on delayed discharge in December 2001, quarter 3 of 2002–02, has been placed in the Library. This is the most recent period for which figures are currently available.

National School Fruit Scheme

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of apples and pears supplied to the pilots for the National School Fruit Scheme in (a) autumn 2000 and (b) autumn 2001 were of UK origin; and if he will list the other countries of origin of the apples and pears.

Jacqui Smith: In Autumn 2000 all apples and pears supplied to the original national school fruit scheme pilots were from UK. In Autumn 2001 almost all apples and most pears supplied to a much larger number of pilot sites were from UK. Detailed information on other countries or origin for this period is not held centrally.

Clinician Connect

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the NHS health authorities whose entire computer network (a) supports and (b) does not support Clinician Connect.

David Lammy: Clinician Connect is the programme managed by the National Health Service information authority for the NHS in England to provide all NHS Trust staff in England with email and browser facilities using the NHS national network, NHSnet.
	All health authorities are connected to the NHSnet, and are therefore able to share information with those clinicians in Trusts who have access to facilities on the network. An exercise is currently under way to monitor progress with Clinician Connect; as at 17 May 2002, 61 Trusts had achieved 100 per cent. coverage for their staff.
	Administration of the NHS in Wales is the responsibility of the National Assembly for Wales.

General Practitioners

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the average number of patients served by each general practitioner in (a) the Weston Area Health Trust, (b) the Avon Health Authority and (c) England.

Hazel Blears: Information on general practitioners is collected and held by primary care trust (or their predecessor primary care groups and health authorities) rather than by National Health Service trust. In 2001 average list sizes were: (a) North Somerset Primary Care Group—1,700; (b) Avon Health Authority—1,705; (c) England—1,841.

Departmental Policies (Wycombe)

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the activities pursued by his Department that have had a particular impact on the Wycombe constituency since 7 June 2001.

Hazel Blears: This information can only be provided at disproportionate cost.
	The Departmental Report for the Department sets out the aims and objectives for the Department, and describes the main activities which supports them. It covers different business areas for which the Department is responsible: public health, the National Health Service, social care and departmental management. It sets out resources committed to each, the results that are being achieved and the priorities for the future. The 2001 report can be found on the following website: hhtp:// www.doh.gov.uk/dohreport/report 2001.
	The 2002 Departmental Report will be published shortly.

Treatment Costs

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost has been of treating a patient (a) in a GP surgery and (b) through NHS Direct in the last 12 months.

David Lammy: NHS Direct does not treat patients. The service provides advice to callers on a range of issues including health scares, appropriate access to healthcare, health information and self care.
	The average cost of a call to NHS Direct in 2001–02 was about £17.92 although this is expected to fall significantly in the future as call volumes rise. The National Audit Office have found that half of callers are directed to forms of care they would not have chosen and that this tends to be care of a lower level and cost of intervention. More than half of NHS Direct costs are saved in this way.
	General practitioners provide a range of services for the treatment of patients. The latest survey estimated data available (2000–01) suggest that a general practitioner consultation costs around £14.

Teenage Pregnancy

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent on the media campaign aimed at reducing teenage pregnancy in each year since 2000–01.

Jacqui Smith: The teenage pregnancy national media campaign consists of press and radio adverts, underpinned by public relations and partnership work. Expenditure was £2.2 million in 2000–01 and £2.5 million in 2001–02. We expect investment this year to be at least £2.5 million.

Operating Theatres

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the correlation between operating theatre space and staffing levels in (a) Somerset and (b) Somerset and Dorset strategic health authority.

Hazel Blears: The Department does not collect this information.

Chiropody/Podiatry Services

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many new chiropody/podiatry episodes of care were begun in each of the last five years in (a) the south-east region (b) East Sussex, Brighton and Hove and (c) Eastbourne;
	(2)  how many patients were discharged from NHS chiropody/podiatry lists in Eastbourne in each of the last five years.

Hazel Blears: Information about the number of patients discharged from national health service chiropody/ podiatry lists in Eastbourne is not available centrally.
	Information about the number of new chiropody/ podiatry episodes of care for the last five years in the south-east region and for those NHS trusts which provide a chiropody service within the East Sussex, Brighton and Hove health authority, which covers Eastbourne, is shown in the table.
	
		
			   1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 
		
		
			 South-east region 131,393 119,009 119,422 111,169 98,725 
			 NHS trusts  
			 Eastbourne and County Healthcare 3,441 3,350 3,559 2,576 2,756 
			 Eastbourne Hospitals 1,207 1,067 1,255 1,455 1,290 
			 Hastings and Rother 2,426 2,328 2,462 1,608 2,006 
			 South Downs Health 6,726 6,758 5,237 2,270 2,620 
		
	
	Source:
	Form KT23, Department of Health, Statistics Division (SD3G)

Multiple Sclerosis Care

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the centres at which the drugs Avonex, Betaferon, Copaxone and Rebif will be provided to multiple sclerosis (MS) patients; and how many MS patients are waiting to be assessed for treatment with these drugs.

David Lammy: It has been estimated that up to 9,000 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in England and Wales may be eligible to receive treatment under the risk-sharing scheme, which started on 6 May 2002. Some centres have now started prescribing under the scheme, though the guidance in HSC 2002–04 recognises that appropriate national health service infrastructure may not yet be in place in some localities. It may take 18 months or longer before all potentially eligible patients are assessed under the scheme. The list of locally agreed prescribing centres is not yet finalised. The scheme co-ordinator, whose appointment will shortly be announced, will collect information on progress and activity under the scheme, but as yet such details are not available centrally.

Pesticide Poisoning

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many cases have been recorded by the National Poisons Information Service since 1996 of lindane poisoning in children up to 14 years of age; what the level of exposure was in each case; and whether these cases were (a) fatal lindane poisonings, (b) non-fatal, hospitalised lindane poisonings and (c) non-hospitalised lindane poisonings;
	(2)  if he will produce an annual report of confirmed and suspected pesticide poisonings recorded by regional centres of the National Poisons Information Service, aggregated with those recorded by the (a) Health and Safety Executive's Pesticide Incident Appraisal Panel and (b) Pesticides Safety Directorate;
	(3)  how many inquiries have been received by the National Poisons Information Service since 1996 regarding lindane.

Hazel Blears: Since 1996 the national poisons information service (NPIS) has received 376 inquiries from national health service health care professionals about lindane poisoning, of which 178 reported lindane poisoning in children up to 14 years of age. In nearly all cases the individuals were asymptomatic or suffered only mild transient symptoms.
	The NPIS centres only record data related to the inquiries they receive and the extent and format of the data held varies from centre to centre. They do not necessarily receive inquiries in every case and will only rarely be provided with information about the level of exposure. NPIS systems are not designed to follow up poisoning incidents and centres can never be certain whether the condition reported at the time of the inquiry was related to the agent implicated nor whether the clinical condition improved or deteriorated thereafter.
	The annual reports of the Health and Safety Executive's Pesticide Incident Appraisal Panel (PIAP) collate reports made to enforcing authorities (Health and Safety Executive and local authorities) which have been investigated. The Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD) does not separately record suspected incidents of exposure to pesticides.
	The information available from NPIS and PIAP reflect the different objectives of the schemes and are thus difficult to aggregate. The Advisory Committee on Pesticides is considering approaches to assessing information on pesticide-related ill health.

Mount Vernon Hospital, Northwood

John Wilkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the future of the Cancer Centre at Mount Vernon Hospital, Northwood.

Hazel Blears: The recommendations of the review steering group were made on 29 May 2002 to the Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire Strategic Health Authority in its capacity as host health authority for the Mount Vernon Cancer Network. The health authority will consider the Mount Vernon Long-Term Cancer Review Report in the context of its acute services review which is not yet completed.
	The recommendations are:
	The review group's recommendation is that a new integrated cancer centre be established on the site of a new hospital in Hertfordshire. This would include the clinical specification set out in the report (pages 27–32) and an ambulatory radiotherapy unit on the Mount Vernon site. The centre should also have a major research and education facility. This is strongly recommended as the preferred option of the review group.
	In the interim period before this new hospital is built, it is absolutely essential that there is significant investment on the Mount Vernon site to maintain and develop the excellent services it currently provides. The review group notes that the case for such investment has been accepted by the Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire StHA.
	The group accepts that Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire StHA may not be able to commit itself to the creation of a new hospital in Hertfordshire and reluctantly recognises that there has to be a reserve position. In these circumstances it would accept the need for the StHA to consider an integrated cancer centre on either the Watford General, Hemel Hempstead or Queen Elizabeth II DGH sites. This is solely on the condition that the full range of services (pages 27–32) to complement an integrated cancer centre is available on the selected site.
	The steering group is unable to recommend development of the future cancer centre on the Mount Vernon site as it is not consistent with the principles underlying the Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire StHA acute services review, nor in line with the cancer and acute service strategies in this part of North West London and runs the risk of destabilising local services. In reaching this recommendation, the group was conscious of the esteem in which Mount Vernon is held and the loyalty of its staff. The group was aware of the impact on research in the interim period.
	Staff and press briefings were held on 29 May 2002 with an MP briefing scheduled for 12 June 2002 following the Whitsun recess.

Mental Health

Doug Naysmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures are being taken within primary care trust areas to ensure that sufficient information is given to mental health service users to enable them to make informed choices before drugs are prescribed and throughout treatment.

Jacqui Smith: Empowering patients to take an active role in their care is a key theme in the NHS Plan. We know that people are more likely to take their medicines correctly when they understand and agree with their treatment, and have been active partners in prescribing decisions. The NHS Plan set a target for all primary care trusts to have schemes in place so that people get more help from pharmacists in using their medicines by 2004. We are also investing in medicines management services including through the medicines management collaborative hosted by the national prescribing centre.
	These actions are underscored by standards two and three of the national service framework for mental health and by targets set for those with severe mental illness in the service and financial framework for 2001–02 and the priorities and planning framework for 2002–03; they set out how copies of care plans should be provided for patients. The task force on medicines partnership, established in January 2002, also aims to improve the use of medicines in the National Health Service by involving patients as partners in prescribing decisions and supporting them in medicine-taking.
	In addition, all National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) appraisals and guidance have sections designed for patients themselves to provide up to date information on the management of their conditions to help them make informed choices about their treatment. Information about this is available from the NICE website at: www.nice.org.uk

Noise

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made as to the impact on (a) children and (b) adults of being chronically exposed to loud noise.

Hazel Blears: As part of a joint programme with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Department of Health commissioned a research programme designed to study the non-auditory health effects of noise.
	Five research projects were funded under this programme, three of which concentrated on the non- auditory effects of noise on children at school and in the home, one concentrated on the effects of occupational noise and the fifth concentrated on noise and insomnia.
	The five projects have recently completed and reported, and the results of the research will be discussed with colleagues from other Departments later in the year.
	Full details of the study are available on the Department's website at www.doh.gov.uk/hef/airpol/ aipolh.htm.

Strokes

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of extra spending announced for the NHS in the recent Budget will be allocated for treatment of and research into strokes.

Jacqui Smith: As a result of the Budget, the national health service in England will receive an annual average real-terms growth in resources of 7.4 per cent. for the five years from 2003–04 to 2007–08. Decisions about allocation of this increased funding will be announced later this year.
	The Medical Research Council (MRC) is the main Government agency for research into the causes of and treatments for disease. The MRC spent £3.4 million on stroke research in 2000–01 and does not anticipate a major change to this level of support.

Departmental Polices (Hull, North)

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what impact his Department's policies have had on the Kingston upon Hull, North constituency since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: Detailed information on the impact of Department's policies nationally is set out in the Department's annual reports. A copy of the most recent report "Department of Health—Government Expenditure Plans 2001–02" is available in Library and on the Department of Health website at www.doh.gov.uk/ dhreport
	The impact of policies is not examined by constituency.

Smallpox

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what analysis his Department has undertaken of the risks of passing Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease to recipients of a smallpox vaccine made from bovine cell culture.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 26 March 2002
	We are not aware that the manufacture of any smallpox vaccine prepared in the past utilised virus culture in bovine cell lines.
	If a manufacturer wished to produce smallpox vaccine using virus culture in bovine cells, the appropriate regulatory guidance on cell characterisation and storage would have to be followed.
	European legislation demands that an application for marketing authorisation of a medicinal product in the European Union must include satisfactory demonstration of compliance with the European note for guidance on minimising the risk of transmitting animal spongiform encephalopathy agents via human and veterinary medicinal products.

Inventures

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial targets have been set for Inventures.

David Lammy: holding answer 18 April 2002
	The Department sets NHS Estates key tasks and targets on an annual basis. These targets are agreed with Ministers. One of these targets requires the agency (including Inventures) to achieve a cumulative operating surplus on ordinary activities before interest and dividends of at least 0.6 per cent. of the value of sales during the period from 1 April 1999 to March 2003.
	Inventures is essentially a consultancy business employing approximately 270 staff with an annual turnover of approximately £15 million. It provides a wide variety of property services including planning, financing, procuring and managing all aspects of healthcare environment and estates. Its primary customers are the Department of Health and national health service trusts.

Age Discrimination

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of cardiac care units in the NHS operate upper age limits or other restrictions in accessing heart by-pass operations on grounds of age; and what percentage of units have age-related policies for treatment of thrombosis.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 10 May 2002
	It is an underlying principle of national health service care that access to services is based on clinical need alone. Cardiac care units have been informed that it is unacceptable to limit access on the basis of age. We are not aware of any NHS cardiac care unit or other NHS cardiac service that currently restricts access to its services on the basis of age.

Food Supplements

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement about the incorporation of EU directives on food supplements and herbal medicines into UK law; and what assessment he has made of the impact on the over the counter availability of food supplements and herbal medicines following the incorporation into UK law of the EU directives.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 22 May 2002
	The food supplements directive must be transposed into UK law by the last day of the month, one year after the date of entry into force of the Directive.
	The Directive will not immediately outlaw any products already on the UK market. Lists of permitted vitamin and mineral sources remain open, pending safety assessments for additional substances. The Government welcomes the amendment to Article 4(6)(b) which was recently adopted by the European Parliament and which extends the time for dossier submission from 18 to 36 months after the Directive comes into force. The Directive gives Member States the opportunity to allow continued sale of products containing vitamin and mineral sources not yet on the permitted list for up to seven years after the Directive comes into force, pending safety assessment of these sources. When implementing the Directive, the Government intends to take full advantage of this flexibility.
	Incorporation into United Kingdom law of the proposed Directive on Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products will be subject to the outcome of European negotiations. On the basis of the formal proposals published in January 2002 by the European Commission, we anticipate that consumers will have continuing access to a wide range of traditional herbal remedies sold over the counter.
	Features of the proposed Directive which might, in principle, inhibit availability are the requirements relating to safety and quality and the definition of traditional use. However, our assessment is that the introduction of the proposed safety and quality standards is necessary for effective public health protection and the maintenance of public confidence in the sector. This in turn will ultimately affect the strength of public demand for herbal remedies. The proposed standards are ones which are already successfully met by many manufacturers in UK and elsewhere of traditional herbal remedies.
	As to the definition of traditional use, we take the view that a large number of unlicensed herbal remedies currently on the market, and sold legally under Section 12(2) of the Medicines Act, 1968, have a strong basis in tradition and so should be able to satisfy the requirement to demonstrate traditional usage. This assessment is based, for example, on the extensive herbal literature covering various herbal traditions, on the activities of herbalists over many decades in supplying herbal medicinal products to individual patients following consultation, and on the existence of large numbers of long-standing licensed herbal remedies in the UK and elsewhere.
	It will not be possible to predict for some time to come the full extent to which herbal remedies will be sold under this Directive. One important issue is that there are likely to be significant numbers of products with a clear basis in tradition and containing herbal ingredients which, depending on the presentation of the company's specific product, may legally be sold either as medicines or in another regulatory product category such as food, cosmetic or general consumer product. There may therefore be options for companies in relation to many such products as to which regulatory route would be most advantageous.
	The Medicines Control Agency is holding a public consultation on the proposed Directive including its likely regulatory impact. The consultation document (MLX 283) can be viewed on the Agency's website www.mca.gov.uk. The consultation period closes on 21 June 2002.

Food Standards (Mobile Retailers)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer given to the hon. Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice) on 26 April 2002, Official Report, column 519W, on food standards (mobile retailers), what extra resources the Government are planning to give local authority environmental health inspectors in the enforcement of food hygiene standards of mobile retailers and takeaway establishments.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 24 May 2002
	Local authorities already receive funding, through the revenue support grant, to enable them to undertake food law enforcement inspections to the full range of food premises, of which mobile retailers form a very small part. It is for individual local authorities to decide specific resource allocations for these purposes.

Hepatitis

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies have been carried out into the anticipated incidence of chronic hepatitis B over the (a) next 5 years and (b) next 10 years.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 10 June 2002
	The public health laboratory service (PHLS) has estimated the current incidence of chronic hepatitis B infection using laboratory reports of acute hepatitis B infection from 1992 to 1996. The estimate is based on reports to the PHLS, the proportion of cases that develop symptoms and the proportion that progress to chronic infection.
	The PHLS estimates that in the United Kingdom, there are an annual average of 311 hepatitis B infections that lead to chronic infection.

Hepatitis

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list (a) the members of the Steering Group on hepatitis C and (b) the terms of reference of the group.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 10 June 2002
	The membership of the Hepatitis C strategy steering group is as follows:
	Chairman
	Professor Howard Thomas, Imperial College School of Medicine, London and Chairman, Advisory Group on Hepatitis
	Members
	John Bryce, lay member
	Jim Camp, Needle Exchange Forum
	Hannah Cinamon, Health Promotion England (until November 2001)
	Professor Chris Day, Medical School, Newcastle University
	Manlio Fahrni, Chair of Re-act and vice-chair of the recently launched national forum, the UK Assembly on Hepatitis (from September 2001)
	Jo Guy, Hepatology Nurse Specialist, Southampton General Hospital
	Dr. Paul Hatton, Consultant in Communicable Disease Control, Leeds health authority and member, Advisory Group on Hepatitis
	Lorraine Hewitt, Action on Hepatitis C and member, Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs
	Nigel Hughes, British Liver Trust
	Professor Will Irving, Department of Microbiology, University of Nottingham and member, Advisory Group on Hepatitis
	Tania Machell, Head of National Hepatitis C Resource Centre, Mainliners (from July 2001)
	Grant McNally, National Drug Users Development Agency
	Dr. Mary Ramsay, Public Health Laboratory Service Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre
	Professor Gerry Stimson, Centre for Research on Drugs and Medicine, Imperial College School of Medicine, London
	Professor John Strang, Director of the National Addiction Centre, Maudsley Hospital, London and member of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs
	Monique Tomlinson, Deputy Director, Mainliners (until July 2001)
	Dr. Martyn Wake, General Practitioner, south west London.
	Its terms of reference are:
	"To oversee development of the Department's strategic approach to hepatitis C by bringing together issues relating to prevention, control and treatment and to produce a document within the year, for consultation with the national health service, professional bodies and the voluntary sector and community sectors".

Hepatitis

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies have been carried out since 1997 to monitor the changes in the epidemiology of hepatitis C infection in England following the introduction of an effective antiviral treatment with interferon and ribavirin; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 10 June 2002
	We are not aware of any national studies on the effect of the introduction of treatment for hepatitis C infection with interferon and ribavirin on its epidemiology.

Hepatitis

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 10 May 2002, Official Report, column 406W, on hepatitis C, what proportion of those cases identified had persistent viraemia.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 10 June 2002
	The information requested is not available. However, several studies have shown that persistent viraemia occurs in about 80 per cent. of cases with antibody positive hepatitis C diagnoses.

Hepatitis

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 10 May 2002, Official Report, column 406W, on hepatitis C, if the figures given included testing carried out in virology departments of teaching hospitals and private laboratories.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 10 June 2002
	The information already provided about antibody positive hepatitis C diagnoses does include those reported to the public health laboratory service (PHLS) by laboratories in teaching hospitals and the private sector.
	Most national health service microbiology laboratories (including laboratories in teaching hospitals) and some private microbiology laboratories voluntarily report diagnoses of hepatitis C to the PHLS. Reports from private laboratories form a very small proportion of all reports received.

Hepatitis

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of patients have chronic liver diseases in the UK owing to chronic infection with hepatitis C virus.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 10 June 2002
	The data requested are not available. However, in 2000–01, there were 27,827 finished consultant episodes in national health service hospitals in England with a primary diagnosis of liver disease. Of these, 524 finished consultant episodes had a secondary diagnosis of chronic viral hepatitis C.
	Notes:
	1. A finished consultant episode is defined as a period of patient care under one consultant in one health care provider. The figures do not represent the number of patients, as one person may have several episodes within the year.
	2. Occasionally there may be missing records or missing diagnosis/operation codes in the HES records so a scaling factor is applied to allow for this. However these grossing factors have not yet been applied to the 2000–01 data.
	Source:
	Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health.

Hepatitis

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been diagnosed with acute hepatitis (a) A, (b) B, (c) C, (d) D, (e) E and (f) G in each year since 1990; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 10 June 2002
	The information available is given in the tables.
	
		Laboratory reports, England and Wales 1990–2001(22)
		
			  Number of people diagnosed 
		
		
			 Hepatitis A infection  
			 1990 7,545 
			 1991 7,202 
			 1992 6,762 
			 1993 3,957 
			 1994 2,413 
			 1995 1,750 
			 1996 1,086 
			 1997 1,310 
			 1998 1,104 
			 1999 1,389 
			 2000 1,047 
			 2001 772 
			   
			 Acute hepatitis B infection  
			 1990 618 
			 1991 572 
			 1992 531 
			 1993 629 
			 1994 631 
			 1995 614 
			 1996 569 
			 1997 652 
			 1998 843 
			 1999 725 
			 2000 661 
			 2001 534 
		
	
	(22) 2001 data are provisional.
	Source:
	Public Health Laboratory Service
	
		Laboratory reports, England and Wales 1994–2001(23)
		
			  Number of people diagnosed 
		
		
			 Hepatitis E infection  
			 1994 12 
			 1995 33 
			 1996 52 
			 1997 21 
			 1998 56 
			 1999 30 
			 2000 34 
			 2001 25 
		
	
	(23) 2001 data are provisional
	Source:
	Public Health Laboratory Service
	The majority of cases of acute hepatitis C infection do not result in symptoms. Laboratory reports of antibody to hepatitis C do not distinguish between new and previous infections. Hepatitis D can only occur in people infected with hepatitis B and separate data on hepatitis D infections are not collected routinely. Hepatitis G is not known to cause hepatitis.

Hepatitis

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish the consultation paper on a strategy for hepatitis C.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 10 June 2002
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Member for Pontefract and Castleford (Yvette Cooper) on 14 May 2002, Official Report, column 630W.

Hepatitis

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what (a) percentage and (b) sums of the budgets of each health authority and primary health trust in England are allocated for the treatment of hepatitis C;
	(2)  if additional funding will be made available to primary health trusts for the use of pegylated interferon for the antiviral treatment of chronic hepatitis C, and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 10 June 2002
	Health authority allocations for 2002–03 increased by £3,704 million, or 9.9 per cent.
	It is for health authorities in partnership with primary care trusts and other local stakeholders to determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities for improving health, tackling health inequalities and modernising services.
	A key priority for the use of additional funding is the implementation of guidance from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE). We have referred pegylated interferons for the treatment of hepatitis C to NICE for inclusion in its work programme.

Wheelchairs

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much the NHS has spent on the provision of electrically-powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many people have utilised NHS vouchers as part-payment for powered wheelchairs in each year since 1997;
	(3)  how many electrically powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs have been made available in each year since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: Pursuant to her reply of 22 January 2002, Official Report, column 763W: I regret that my previous reply was incorrect. It should read:
	Expenditure on electrically powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs (EPIOCs) are as follows.
	
		Expenditure on powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs—England -- £000
		
			  Amount 
		
		
			 1997–98 6,428 
			 1998–99 8,099 
			 1999–2000 6,892 
			 2000–01 8,803 
		
	
	Figures are not collected centrally for numbers of vouchers issued separated into manual wheelchairs and EPIOCs.
	The following table gives the only data available centrally. A number of these figures are incomplete (as annotated):
	
		
			 England 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 
		
		
			 Number of powered wheelchairs issued 4,464 4,033 3,388 3,279(25) 
			 Number of vouchers issued for wheelchairs 560(24) 5,010(25) 6,305 6,250(25) 
		
	
	(24) Collection of data was not mandatory
	(25) Incomplete figure (one return missing)

HOME DEPARTMENT

Race Relations Act

Adrian Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to make changes to current authorisations under section 19D of the Race Relations Act 1976, as amended.

Beverley Hughes: I have today revoked the authorisation signed by my hon. friend the member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Mrs. Roche) on 23 April 2001 which permits immigration officers to discriminate in the examination of passengers from certain specified ethnic or national groups. We have kept this authorisation under close review in the light of intelligence assessments from the Immigration Service. After a year's experience of operating the authorisations, the Immigration Service has found it sufficient to rely on the authorisation made on 27 March 2001 which permits it to prioritise certain passengers for additional examination on the basis of their nationality. We will keep under review the possible need for further authorisations permitting discrimination on grounds of ethnic or national origin where necessary in respect of specific targeted operations.

Community Police Officers

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department further to his answer of 11 April 2002, Official Report, column 565W, how many community police officers there are on the beat, broken down by division.

John Denham: The information in the table has been provided by the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester police (D. Wilmot Esq QPM). The number of officers shown as on the beat comprises those carrying out the role of community beat constable or that of area/community sergeant.
	
		
			 Division Community Police Officers on the beat(26) 
		
		
			 North Manchester Division 48 
			 South Manchester Division 89 
			 The City of Salford Division 63 
			 Tameside Metropolitan Borough Division 29 
			 Stockport Metropolitan Borough Division 42 
			 Bolton Metropolitan Borough Division 54 
			 Wigan Metropolitan Borough Division 40 
			 Trafford Metropolitan Borough Division 27 
			 Bury Metropolitan Borough Division 21 
			 Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Division 39 
			 Oldham Metropolitan Borough Division 31 
			  
			 Total 483 
		
	
	(26) Figures are for 22 May 2002

Crime Statistics

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of crime is (a) committed by and (b) committed against young males between the ages of 14 and 24 years; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: holding answer 21 May 2002
	Statistics of recorded crime are not collected by age, principally because a part of it is unsolved and therefore details of suspects are not known.
	The available information relates to persons convicted or cautioned for notifiable offences in England and Wales in 2000, 41 per cent. of whom were males aged 14 to 24 years.
	The 2000 British Crime Survey estimates that 25 per cent. of all personal crime (wounding, assault, robbery, theft from the person and other personal theft) reported to the survey was committed against males between the ages of 16 and 24.

Lay Visitors Scheme

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many complaints have been made about the operation of the police station cells lay visitors scheme in each constabulary in each of the last three years for which records exist;
	(2)  how many visits have been made in each police authority under the lay visitors scheme and its successor in each of the last three years for which records are available;
	(3)  what the cost was of running the lay visitors scheme for each police authority in each of the last three years for which records exist;
	(4)  if he will list the police authorities and other bodies that have made representations to him calling for changes to the custody visitors schemes, indicating the changes requested.

John Denham: During the most recent review of the Home Office guidance to the police on lay/custody visiting, representations were received from the following bodies:
	Police Authority
	Cheshire
	Derbyshire
	Dorset
	Greater Manchester
	Metropolitan
	Norfolk
	North Yorkshire
	North Wales
	Nottinghamshire
	West Yorkshire
	Wiltshire
	Police Force
	Derbyshire
	Greater Manchester
	Lancashire
	South Yorkshire
	Surrey
	Sussex
	Other Body
	Association of Police Authorities
	Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary
	Independent Custody Visitoring Association
	Police Complaints Authority
	Police Federation
	Superintendents' Association.
	The most common issues raised were the organisation, recruitment and conditions of service of lay/custody visitors, as well as the administrative support provided by police authorities. There were also concerns about the level of training provided and procedures for carrying out visits, such as frequency and visiting in pairs.
	Records of numbers of visits, the costs of running schemes and the number of complaints received are not kept centrally and the information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The Police Reform Bill before Parliament includes provisions for placing independent custody visiting on a statutory basis. Custody visiting schemes in each police authority will then be mandatory and a supporting code of practice will provide for consistent standards across England and Wales.

Asylum Seekers

Peter Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Centrex site at High Ercall has been proposed as a site for an asylum seeker accommodation centre.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 25 April 2002
	I refer my hon. Friend to the answer my hon. Friend the Member for Wallasey (Angela Eagle) gave on 14 May 2002, Official Report, column 597W, when she announced that the Home Office would shortly be submitting planning notifications for accommodation centres at three sites. My hon. Friend also announced that a further three sites required further work before a decision could be taken as to whether to proceed to planning notifications.
	Alongside the competition for the design, build and operation of accommodation centres the private sector were invited to submit their own proposals. All of these will be given due consideration across a range of criteria.
	On 18 April 2002, my hon. Friend told the hon. Member for North Shropshire (Mr. Paterson), Official Report, column 1168W, that the site at High Ercall had not been proposed to the Home Office. Since that time a proposal has come forward. This does not necessarily mean that the site has become a serious prospect; nor will we be in a position to know whether it has until a full evaluation has taken place.
	However, the general position remains that we will not be putting details of potential new sites into the public domain unless and until they are considered to be a serious prospect for the siting of an accommodation centre.

Asylum Seekers

Linda Perham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what travel allowances will be paid to enable asylum seekers to comply with reporting requirements.

Beverley Hughes: The Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill contains a provision which if introduced will allow the Secretary of State to meet the travel costs of asylum seekers required to report. The Bill does not provide that travel expenses will be met in all cases. It is intended to meet the reasonable costs of travel where appropriate.

Asylum Seekers

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the possible use of Sully hospital in Cardiff to house asylum seekers.

Beverley Hughes: I refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend the Member for Wallasey (Angela Eagle) gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Warrington, North (Helen Jones) on 14 May 2002, Official Report, column 597W.

Asylum Seekers

Tom Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many residents of Glasgow, Cathcart constituency have successfully applied for asylum in the past two years;
	(2)  how many residents of Glasgow, Cathcart constituency have applied for, and been refused, asylum in the last two years;
	(3)  how many asylum seekers living in Glasgow, Cathcart constituency are awaiting the outcome of their asylum applications;
	(4)  how many residents of Glasgow, Cathcart constituency have been removed from the UK following their failure to be granted asylum in the past two years.

Beverley Hughes: Asylum applications data are not available at regional level except by port (for those applications made at port—these accounted for 36 per cent. of applications in 2001).
	Corresponding information on initial decision outcomes, cases outstanding and removals relating to persons in particular areas of the United Kingdom is also unavailable. The requested information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by examination of individual case records.

Asylum Seekers

Tony Worthington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the purpose is of the new asylum registration cards; and what statutory limits will be placed on their use.

Beverley Hughes: The Application Registration Card (ARC) is being issued to asylum seekers and their dependants as an acknowledgement of their application for asylum. It replaces the Standard Acknowledgement Letter (SAL) that has been widely forged.
	The card will be used to obtain access to the services and benefits to which many asylum seekers are entitled including support payment in cash from National Asylum Support Service (NASS)-enabled Post Offices. Asylum seekers will be expected to produce their ARC when reporting to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate, as a means of identification.
	Clause 117 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill introduces offences in relation to the fraudulent use or production of application registration cards.

Asylum Accommodation Centres

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who is negotiating on behalf of the Government with Severn Waste Services for the purchase of land necessary to construct an access road to the Throckmorton site for a possible asylum accommodation centre; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: I understand that dialogue is continuing between the site owner, QinetiQ, and Severn Waste. The proposal for an access road has its origins in QinetiQ's plan to establish a science park at Throckmorton airfield, which are well known and which pre-date our proposal for an accommodation centre for asylum seekers.

Asylum Accommodation Centres

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 11 March 2002, Official Report, column 718W, on asylum accommodation centres, what evaluation has taken place of bids to develop and operate asylum accommodation centres; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: No bids have yet been invited to develop and operate accommodation centres.

Asylum Accommodation Centres

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Defence Estates organisation about its planned disposals of land and the suitability of such land for use as an asylum accommodation centre.

Beverley Hughes: We are working very closely with the Defence Estates organisation on the accommodation centres programme. In relation to discussions on the Throckmorton site, we are conducting these with QinetiQ.

Asylum Accommodation Centres

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received supporting the establishment of an asylum accommodation centre at Throckmorton, Worcestershire.

Beverley Hughes: A planning notification has not yet been submitted in respect of the proposed accommodation centre at Throckmorton.
	The consultation period of the planning process has therefore not yet begun.

Asylum Accommodation Centres

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will meet residents of the Buckingham constituency who will be affected if plans proceed for an accommodation centre for asylum seekers in Piddington.

Beverley Hughes: The Home Office will shortly be taking part in public consultation as part of the planning process. We are discussing with Cherwel district council the exact nature that the consultation will take.

Juvenile Sex Abusers

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures his Department takes to address the needs of children and young people who sexually abuse; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: Dealing with children and young people who sexually abuse requires contributions from different agencies, covering youth justice, child welfare, and education and health, including child and adolescent mental health agencies.
	Specific Home Office measures include the Home Office sponsored Youth Justice Board's funding of £60,000 for six projects that work with this group of young people, and a grant of £87,442 to a project developing and piloting new assessment methods. The Board are also working with the National Organisation for the Treatment of Abusers and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) to develop good practice and guidance for youth offending teams, and within the juvenile secure estate.
	The National Probation Service, jointly with the Prison Service and Youth Justice Board, are funding a pilot young sex offenders project for young people aged between 15 and 21, offering specialist assessments and interventions both in custody and in the community.

Juvenile Sex Abusers

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many meetings he has had with ministerial colleagues with regard to children and young people who sexually abuse in the last two years.

Hilary Benn: I have had no formal meetings with ministerial colleagues specifically regarding children and young people who sexually abuse.

Juvenile Sex Abusers

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of children and young people who are required to register in accordance with the Sex Offenders Act 1997 received treatment for sexually abusive behaviour in (a) 1998, (b) 1999, (c) 2000 and (d) 2001.

Hilary Benn: The Sex Offenders Act 1997 requires offenders cautioned, convicted, or found not guilty by reason of insanity in respect of an offence specified in Schedule One to the Act to provide certain details to the police. There is no centralised "register" of sex offenders, as such. It is not, therefore, possible to disaggregate the number of young people from adults subject to the Act's requirements.
	Neither the Home Office nor the Youth Justice Board holds statistics on the number of young offenders who are required as a condition of their sentence to undertake treatment to address sexually abusive behaviour.

Juvenile Sex Abusers

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in implementing the recommendations made as a result of the consultation, 'Setting the Boundaries: Reforming the Law on Sex Offences'.

Hilary Benn: We are currently considering how to update existing legislation on sex offences in the light of the recommendations contained in 'Setting the Boundaries' and more than 700 responses that were received during the consultation period. We intend to bring forward legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows.

Juvenile Sex Abusers

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out the regulations by which schedule 1 status is applied to juveniles.

Hilary Benn: Schedule 1 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 is a list of violent and sexual offences against children. This list has been used by various agencies as a way of identifying those who may pose a risk to children. There are currently no regulations that deal specifically with juveniles who commit a schedule 1 offence.

Juvenile Sex Abusers

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what funding was available for programmes which addressed the needs of children and young people who sexually abuse in (a) 1998, (b) 1999, (c) 2000 and (d) 2001.

Hilary Benn: Full information is not held centrally. Specific related programme funding includes the Home Office sponsored Youth Justice Board's funding of six projects between 1999 and 2002, which totalled £600,000. The board are also providing funding totalling £87,442 between October 2001 and December 2003 to a project developing and piloting new assessment methods, and funding totalling £14,921 between November 2001 and March 2003 to a project examining the national provision of services.
	The National Probation Service is funding a pilot young sex offenders project designed to provide a specialist assessment and intervention service for young people aged between 15 and 21. The pilot received grant funding of £243,000 in 2001–02 and has a budget of £331,000 for 2002–03.

Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will proscribe the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine under the Terrorism Act 2001; and if he will make a statement.

David Blunkett: holding answer 24 May 2002
	The list of proscribed organisations is kept under review and decisions to proscribe or deproscribe are taken after careful consideration of all relevant aspects.

National Asylum Support Services

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when NASS subcontracted its telephone inquiries function to an outside source; to which organisation it has been subcontracted, and for what period; for what reason the decision to subcontract the work was taken; what assessment he has made of the quality of information given out; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) has not subcontracted its telephone inquiries function.
	The Immigration and Nationality Enquiry Bureau (INEB), part of the Immigration and Nationality Directorate, is responsible for handling inquiries about subsistence payments, and where it is believed support has been terminated erroneously, INEB takes these inquiries to enable NASS caseworkers to resolve queries more efficiently and in a shorter timescale.
	All other telephone inquiries are handled by NASS staff.

Mortuaries

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  who has responsibility for providing public mortuaries;
	(2)  if he will list public mortuaries in England, indicating who is responsible for running them.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 24 May 2002
	Under the Public Health Act 1936, local authorities have the power to provide public mortuaries and post-mortem rooms. In practice, I understand that most coroners and local authorities rely on the national health service facilities for mortuary provision.
	Following a recent survey carried out by the Home Office, we are aware that the following local authorities in England provide a public mortuary service:
	London borough of Barnet
	London borough of Brent
	London borough of Bromley
	London borough of Croydon
	London borough of Greenwich
	London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
	London borough of Hillingdon
	London borough of Lewisham
	London borough of Newham
	London borough of Westminster
	Birmingham city council
	Bracknell Forest council
	Bradford metropolitan district council
	Brighton and Hove city council
	Bournemouth borough council
	Cannock Chase district council
	High Peak borough council
	Kingston upon Hull city council
	Liverpool city council
	Pendle borough council
	Rossendale borough council
	Sheffield city council
	Stoke-on-Trent city council
	Wolverhampton city council.

Prisoners

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the number of prisoners who have (a) drug and (b) alcohol problems; and what services are available to them.

Hilary Benn: Every prisoner on reception receives a health examination and during that assessment a prisoner will be encouraged to disclose any drug or alcohol misuse problem. Figures on those with substance misuse problems are not kept centrally. Epidemiological surveys show that around 80 per cent. of prisoners had used drugs prior to prison, with 54 per cent. admitting dependency. Random mandatory drug testing figures show that, nationally, 11.6 per cent. of prisoners tested positive for drugs in 2001–02.
	An integrated range of drug treatment and support services is available to prisoners comprising:
	detoxification services available in all local and remand prisons;
	counselling, assessment, referral, advice and throughcare (CARATs) available in all prisons;
	50 intensive treatment programmes; and
	voluntary drug testing programmes are available throughout the prison estate.

Prisoners

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what percentage of prisoners had no fixed accommodation upon release from prison in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what services are available to find accommodation;
	(2)  how many prisoners left prison and went directly into employment in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and what services are available to prisoners to find employment upon release from prison.

Hilary Benn: The Prison Service undertook a large- scale survey in November and December 2001 of sentenced prisoners nearing release. 33 per cent. said they did not have accommodation arranged on release. 24 per cent. said they had a job to go to on release and six per cent. a training place.
	By comparison, in a prisoner resettlement survey conducted by the National Association for Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NACRO) in 1992, 48 per cent. said they needed help with long-term housing and 89 per cent. were likely to face unemployment on release.
	Many establishments provide services to help prisoners find accommodation and employment on release, often in partnership with Jobcentre Plus, the National Probation Service or voluntary sector organisations. These include housing advice centres, jobsearch training and support, and the piloting in eight prisons from summer 2002 of new technology giving access to Jobcentre Plus information on employment vacancies across the country. The Prison Service Custody to Work programme, with £30 million earmarked over 2001–04, is geared towards increasing the number of prisoners getting jobs or training places after release through the development of such resettlement activity.
	Further impetus to improving the accommodation and employment services available to prisoners has been provided by the thematic review of resettlement published by the Inspectorates of Prisons and Probation in October 2001, and by the Social Exclusion Unit's current study on reducing re-offending by released prisoners, which is expected to report later in the year.

Prisoners

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are in place for prisoners held in the high secure unit at HMP Belmarsh to take regular daily exercise; and how much fluid is available to each prisoner per day.

Hilary Benn: All prisoners in the High Secure Unit are able to have one hour of exercise in the open air each day. In addition they are also able, subject to staff availability, to attend the gymnasium three times each week. Each residential spur has either an exercise bike, rowing machine or step exerciser available for use by prisoners.
	Every cell contains a cold water tap providing drinking water. Each residential spur also has a water heater to provide prisoners with hot drinks. To cover those periods when prisoners are locked in their cells, each person is provided with a vacuum flask so as to enable them to make hot drinks, for which purpose they each receive a weekly allowance of tea, coffee and powdered milk. Every day each prisoner will also receive one 200ml carton of milk.
	All prisoners are allowed to purchase items from the prison shop. Among items that are available are canned and bottled carbonated drinks as well as still drinks. Additional quantities of tea, coffee and hot drinks are also available for purchase.

Television Licences

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) male and (b) female prisoners are in prison in connection with non-payment of television licences.

Hilary Benn: The latest provisional data (representing 30 April 2002) show that there were no people in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales for using a television without a licence at that time.

Prisoner Suicides

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many (a) attempted suicides and (b) suicides there were in prisons in England and Wales in each of the last 20 years; and what percentage of the prison population this represents;
	(2)  how many (a) attempted suicides and (b) suicides there were in each prison in the UK in the last 20 years; and what percentage of the prison population in each prison this represents.

Hilary Benn: The available information is set out in tables, which have been placed in the Library. Figures for "attempted suicide" (for which there is no separate definition) are subsumed within those for self-harm, which cover all acts of self-injury, however non-serious. The definition of self-harm and recording practices are under review. Information relating to prisons in Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for the Scottish Executive and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Dr. John Reid) respectively.

HMP Belmarsh

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when and for what reasons the special secure unit at HMP Belmarsh was redesignated a high secure unit; and what the principal differences in prison regime are.

Hilary Benn: The high security unit at Belmarsh is a four spur, 48 cell facility holding both 'high' and 'standard' risk category A prisoners. In the event of a category A prisoner being received at Belmarsh with an 'exceptional' risk classification, then one spur of the unit will become a special secure unit. When this situation arises, the facility operates as a special secure unit.
	There are no principal differences in the regime offered to prisoners caused by change of designation. The main difference arising from the change of designation would be in respect of general security measures taken by staff.

Hezb-e Tahrir

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his Department has classified Hezb-e Tahrir as a terrorist organization; what changes have been made in its classification since January 1999; and if he will make a statement.

David Blunkett: This organisation is not on the proscribed list of organisations contained in schedule 2 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
	The list of proscribed organisations is kept under review and decisions to proscribe or deproscribe are taken after careful consideration of all relevant aspects.

Animal Rights Protests

Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many successful prosecutions of animal rights activists have occurred since the provisions of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 came into force; and what sentences were handed down.

Hilary Benn: Information on prosecutions under the provisions of the 2001 Act relating to intimidatory assemblies and malicious communications will be published for the first time in 2003, although this will not distinguish between prosecutions of animal rights extremists and other people since the characteristics of court defendants are not collected centrally.

Damilola Taylor

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 15 May 2002, Official Report, column 700W, on Damilola Taylor, if he will define vulnerable or intimidated witnesses; what his criteria are for this definition; and which agents and agencies he consulted on this definition.

Hilary Benn: Sections 16 and 17 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 define vulnerable and intimidated witnesses in terms of their eligibility for assistance from special measures to achieve best evidence.
	Vulnerable witnesses are those (other than the defendant) who are eligible for assistance because they are under 17 at the time of the hearing or because the court considers that the quality of their evidence is likely to be diminished for reasons of physical disability, physical or mental disorder or a significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning.
	Intimidated witnesses are those who are eligible for assistance because the court is satisfied that the quality of their evidence is likely to be diminished by fear or distress about testifying. The court has to take into account the nature and alleged circumstances of the offence, the age of the witness and any views expressed by him or her, and any behaviour towards the witness on the part of the accused, members of the family or associates of the accused or any other person who is likely to be an accused or witness in the proceedings.
	Where relevant, the court must also take into account the witness's social and cultural background and ethnic origin, domestic and employment circumstances and religious beliefs or political opinions.
	A complainant in respect of a sexual offence who is a witness in proceedings relating to that offence is also eligible for assistance unless the witness has informed the court that he or she does not wish to be eligible.
	The definitions in sections 16 and 17 of the 1999 Act were based on the recommendations of 'Speaking Up for Justice', the report of the inter-departmental working group which is available in the Library and to which I referred in my earlier answer. This contains a literature review and a summary of representations received from organisations and individuals.

Data Protection

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the draft codes of practice which relate to the use and retention of communications data as defined in the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000; if he has revised his estimates on the costs to industry of the retention of such data; and if he will make a statement as to why the draft code of practice which relates to retention of communications data has not yet been issued.

David Blunkett: The codes of practice relating to the access and retention of communications data are being developed in consultation with communications providers, the security, intelligence and law enforcement agencies and the Interception and Information Commissioners respectively. A draft of the access code will be laid before Parliament shortly, and a retention code will be issued for public consultation. Discussions with communications providers are forming the basis of the Government's assessment of the cost of retention.

Youth Offending

Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he is taking to tackle persistent youth offending.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 10 June 2002
	We have given the courts new secure remand and tagging powers for 12 to 16-year-olds who repeatedly offend on bail. Both started in the 10 street crime priority areas on 22 April. Tagging started in the rest of the country on 1 June 2002, and secure remands will start on 16 September 2002.
	We have also delivered the youth justice pledge by halving the time from arrest to sentence for persistent young offenders; funding the Youth Justice Board's intensive supervision and surveillance programmes for the most prolific offenders; and we have introduced the detention and training order for persistent and more serious young offenders.

Devolution

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what plans he has to transfer the administration of reserved powers and functions of his Department, its executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies within its remit from his Department to the Scotland Office;
	(2)  how many representations the Scottish Executive has made to his Department since May 1999, broken down by (a) Scottish Executive Department, (b) subject and (c) date;
	(3)  how many times his office has made representations to the Scottish Executive since May 1999, broken down by (a) Department approached, (b) subject and (c) date.

David Blunkett: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister on 24 May 2002, Official Report, column 600W.

Yarl's Wood

Patrick Hall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  of those detainees who were present at Yarl's Wood Immigration Detention Centre on the evening of 14 February and who had been removed from Britain as of Tuesday 21 May, how many were due to be questioned by the police as part of the criminal investigation into the disturbances at Yarl's Wood but were not questioned before removal;
	(2)  of those detainees who were present at Yarl's Wood Immigration Detention Centre on the evening of 14 February and who had been removed from Britain as of Tuesday 21 May, how many had been questioned by the police as part of the criminal investigation into the disturbances at Yarl's Wood.

Beverley Hughes: The questioning of detainees by the police as part of the criminal investigation into the disturbances at Yarl's Wood is a matter for Bedfordshire police.
	Information about subsequent removals is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by an examination of individual case files.

Haslar Detention Centre

Peter Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the road signs directing the public to Haslar Detention Centre have been replaced by signs reading Immigration Removal Centre Haslar; and whether these changes reflect a change of purpose for the establishment.

Beverley Hughes: We announced our intention to redesignate existing detention centres as "Removal Centres" in the recent White Paper, Secure Borders, Safe Haven: Integration with diversity in modern Britain. There is provision in the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill currently before Parliament to amend references to detention centres in the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 and elsewhere so as to formally reflect their change of name to removal centres.
	This change will reinforce the key part these centres play in the removal of failed asylum seekers and others. There are no substantive changes to the provisions relating to the purpose and operation of these centres.

Prison Service

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the fines imposed on private sector contractors within the Prison Service for not meeting targets have been (a) paid and (b) overturned on appeal in each of the last three years.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 23 May 2002
	The number of fines imposed in the last three years is as follows:
	1999–2000: 11
	2000–01: 7
	2001–02: 3.
	All of the fines have been paid and none have been overturned on appeal.

Prison Service

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff were employed by the Prison Service in each of the last five years.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 23 May 2002
	The information is contained the table:
	
		
			   Prison Service staff in post 
		
		
			 31 March 1997 39,629 
			 31 March 1998 41,056 
			 31 March 1999 42,683 
			 31 March 2000 43,683 
			 31 March 2001 43,800 
			 31 March 2002 44,463

Prison Service

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison officers have left the service within (a) one year and (b) two years of starting in each of the last five years.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 23 May 2002
	The information is contained the table. Reliable leavers information including date of recruitment is not available before June 1998.
	
		
			  Left within one year of recruitment Left within up to two years of recruitment 
		
		
			 1998–99(27) 41 65 
			 1999–2000 61 98 
			 2000–01 46 93 
			 2001–02 32 107 
		
	
	(27) June 1998 to March 1999 only.

Prison Service

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff (a) were recruited to and (b) left the Prison Service in each of the last five years.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 23 May 2002
	The information, which includes casual staff, is contained in the table.
	
		
			  Recruits Leavers 
		
		
			 1997–98 4,732 (28)— 
			 1998–99 4,144 2,817 
			 1999–2000 4,419 3,316 
			 2000–01 3,466 3,812 
			 2001–02 4,337 4,211 
		
	
	(28) Reliable information on leavers during 1997–98 is not available.

Prison Service

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration is given to ease of access for family visits in placing prisoners.

Hilary Benn: All prison establishments are required to consider a number of factors when placing a prisoner, one of which is the home area of prisoners and their visitors.
	The Prison Service places great importance on prisoners having regular and productive visits in order to maintain close and meaningful ties with their families as part of their effective rehabilitation.
	However, high population levels throughout the prison estate can lead to prisoners being transferred from their home area to prison establishments with a greater number of vacancies to create capacity for remand prisoners within those prisons that serve the courts.

Prison Service

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of prisoners in each prison are (a) married or in long-term relationships, (b) have children under 18 and (c) both.

Hilary Benn: On reception into prison all prisoners are asked about their marital status. They cannot be required to provide this information. As of 24 May, 10,786 male prisoners and 571 female prisoners described themselves as married or cohabiting. This amounts to 16 per cent. of the prison population. The information is not available by individual establishment. Information about prisoners with children is not collated. However, surveys suggest that about 60 per cent. of prisoners have children of whom about half have dependent children.

Wolds Prison

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the officially designated maximum prisoner capacity is for HMP Wolds.

Hilary Benn: Wolds prison has an operational capacity of 410.

Wolds Prison

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what facilities are available at HMP Wolds for prisoners with mental health problems.

Hilary Benn: Prisoners with mental health problems can be cared for in the health care centre at Wolds prison, which provides for up to 16 in-patients. A number of the nurses caring for these patients are specifically qualified to work with mentally ill prisoners. A psychiatrist visits the prison on a weekly basis to provide psychological and counsellor support to those within the health care centre and on normal location. Wolds prison also works very closely with agencies to provide secure hospital accommodation and mental health community support for those prisoners being discharged.

Wolds Prison

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many positive drug tests were recorded at HMP Wolds in the past three years.

Hilary Benn: For the year ending 31 March 2000, 58 drug tests at Wolds prison were recorded as positive. The figures were 38 and 16 for the years ending 31 March 2001 and 2002 respectively.

Wolds Prison

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many assaults on staff there were at HMP Wolds in the last three years.

Hilary Benn: For the year ending 31 March 2000, there were 14 assaults by prisoners on staff. The figures were 16 and nine for the years ending 31 March 2001 and 2002 respectively.

Coroners

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress of the review of the coroners' system.

Hilary Benn: The review has so far involved a number of regional visits to coroners and meetings with the public, as well as with the Department for Health, the Retained Organs Commission, the Lord Chancellor's Department, the Judicial Studies Board and other relevant organisations. Time has also been spent in Northern Ireland, and review team members have attended Home Office-run coroner training events. The review team hope to issue a consultation on document shortly.

Brixton Prison

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the staff employed in Brixton prison in each year since 1996 have formerly been members of the security services in Northern Ireland.

Hilary Benn: Information on the earlier careers of prison staff is not held in the form required and would necessitate examining around 1,300 files, and interviewing several hundred staff, many of whom no longer work for the Prison Service. This could be done only at disproportionate cost.

Brixton Prison

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action has been taken to ensure that the sabotage of cell bell alarm systems identified by the Chief Inspector of Prisons in his inspection of HMP Brixton on 26 to 29 June 2000 is not repeated.

Hilary Benn: New procedures were put in place following the inspection to ensure the cell call bells remain in working order. The cell call system is checked daily by wing staff and night orderlies. No reports of a failure of the system have been reported since the new procedure was introduced.

Brixton Prison

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what disciplinary action has been taken against those involved in the sabotage of cell bell alarm systems identified in the inspection by the Chief Inspector of Prisons of HMP Brixton on 26 to 29 June 2000.

Hilary Benn: Despite investigation, no member of staff has been identified as being responsible for sabotaging the cell call bell system at Brixton prison. It has not, therefore been possible to take any disciplinary action.
	The Prison Service takes a very serious view of such matters and, should information come to light which is strong enough to support taking disciplinary action, this will be done.

Brixton Prison

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the deaths of Irish citizens in Brixton prison since 1996.

Hilary Benn: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply my hon. Friend Minister of State, Home Office (Beverley Hughes) gave my hon. Friend, the Member for Kingston-upon-Hull, North (Mr. McNamara) on 21 May 2002, Official Report, column 268W, which explained that a review is to be conducted into the deaths of Irish prisoners at Brixton since 1998. There were no such deaths between 1996 and 1998.

Prison Staff Deployment

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the deployment of prison staff now in charge of Irish prisoners who have served in the security forces in Northern Ireland.

Hilary Benn: None. Detailed information about earlier careers of members of staff is not collated and to do so would involve disproportionate cost.

Irish Prisoners

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received in the last six months from the Irish Government, Irish community organisations and individuals on the deaths of Irish prisoners in British prisons; and what action he has taken as a result.

Hilary Benn: Correspondence has been received from the Irish in Britain Representation Group. A reply will be sent shortly.

Irish Prisoners

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to include an Irish category based on CRE guidelines in the system for ethnic monitoring in Her Majesty's prisons.

Hilary Benn: The Commission for Race Equality's (CRE) "Ethnic Monitoring—A Guide for Public Authorities" recommends adopting the ethnic categories used in the 2001 Census and this incorporates the use of an Irish category. All civil service Departments were required by the Cabinet Office to undertake an ethnicity re-classification exercise. The format for the classifications was provided to reflect the latest census classification. The Prison Service are in the process of adopting the Census 2001 categories.
	An ethnicity re-classification exercise of all Prison Service staff was undertaken in October 2001. Every member of staff was asked to complete a questionnaire which allowed their ethnic origin to be recorded in a category as provided for in the 2001 Census. Arrangements are also being made to update.

Court Adjournments

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment his Department has made of the trend in the number of court cases that are adjourned one or more times, and the effect that these adjournments have on other parts of the court service.

Yvette Cooper: I have been asked to reply.
	Sample surveys of magistrates court cases show that the proportion of defendants whose cases were adjourned in these courts fell from 50 per cent. in 1997 to 44 per cent. in 2001. In the magistrates courts a joint monitoring scheme with the Crown Prosecution Service and other criminal justice agencies began on 1 April 2002, to collect data for all adjourned trials, including the number of previous adjournments. The first quarterly figures will be published in July 2002. The Crown court also has a national monitoring scheme for adjourned trials. Data from both sources will inform a research project, planned to start later this year, into the effect of trial adjournments.

Youth Justice

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of cases in magistrates courts involving young people as a defendant (a) went ahead at the first hearing, (b) were adjourned once before the case is heard and (c) were adjourned more than once before the case is heard in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Yvette Cooper: I have been asked to reply.
	During last year, 26 per cent. of young defendants had their cases completed at the first listing, 23 per cent. had one adjournment and 51 per cent. were adjourned more than once. These figures are taken from sample surveys, so total numbers are not available.